TORONTO – The Yankees need Al Leiter to pitch like this more than ever. Leiter won for the second time since returning to New York, and Alex Rodriguez homered and had three hits to lead the Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 yesterday.

Leiter (2-3) gave up four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings, walking four and striking out two in his fifth start for the Yankees.

Before the game, the Yankees found out that Randy Johnson’s next start is in doubt because of a bad back and that Carl Pavano will see Dr.James Andrews in Alabama today instead of making a minor league rehab start.

“That makes it even more necessary to count on Al,” manager Joe Torre said. “Leiter was huge for us today. We need to count on guys who have been down that road before, and he’s one of them.”

Leiter beat Boston in his debut on July 17 but lost his next three starts.

The Yankees are already missing injured starters Kevin Brown, Chien-Ming Wang, and Jaret Wright.

“I know why I’m here,” Leiter said. “I think it’s only going to get better for me. I feel much more comfortable about what I’m doing here.”

Leiter was 3-7 with a 6.64 ERA in 17 games for the Florida Marlins, who designated him for assignment last month. Before the game, Torre said there was no way Leiter could have lost his ability to pitch so quickly. He went 10-8 with 3.21 ERA last year for the Mets.

The left-hander came up with New York in 1987 and was traded to Toronto in 1989.

Leiter took a three-hit shutout into the sixth but was replaced by Alan Embree after walking Frank Menechino to load the bases. Embree escaped the jam as Orlando Hudson popped up on Embree’s first pitch.

“Believe it or not, you get some of those veteran pitchers and they can get in some jams and come up with a pitch here or there,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said.

Mariano Rivera got the final out with runners on first and second to earn his 29th straight save.

Pinch-hitter Eric Hinske drove in the first run for the Blue Jays with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Left-fielder Hideki Matsui thought Hinske’s fly ball was the third out of the inning and was about to throw the ball to a fan in the stands before realizing it was the just the second out. He then threw out Gregg Zaun at third for the third out, prompting some smiles from his teammates.

Matsui realized it was only the second out after looking at the fans and hearing his teammates scream.

“Usually when there is three outs the fans in the stands are looking to get the ball, so when I was about to toss the ball they didn’t seem like they wanted it,” Matsui said through an interpreter. “There was no doubt I was pretty embarrassed. Even a little leaguer wouldn’t make that kind of mental mistake.”

Rodriguez couldn’t believe it.

“I’ve never seen Matsui ever make a mistake. That’s the weirdest thing,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez hit his 31st homer, a solo shot off Josh Towers (8-9) in the second. After Matsui followed with a double, Jason Giambi hit an RBI single.

Gary Sheffield hit a run-scoring single in the third, and New York scored twice in the fourth on Tino Martinez’s RBI double and Tony Womack’s runscoring double play.

Towers allowed five runs – three earned – and 10 hits in six innings. “He was in trouble but he hung in there,” Gibbons said.

Giambi’s RBI single off Jason Frasor gave New York a 6-0 lead in the seventh.