TORONTO – With the help of a big offensive performance, Carl Pavano got his first win with the Yankees.

Pavano scattered seven hits over eight innings, and Jorge Posada hit a three-run homer to lead the Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays 11-2 last night in the opener of a two-game series.

New York entered with five losses in six games, tied with Tampa Bay for last in the AL East at 5-9. But for the second time in three games, the Yankees took a big early lead, going ahead 7-1 in the fourth inning.

Pavano (1-2), who signed a $39.95 million, four-year contract, pitched well but didn’t get a decision against Boston in his first start, then was knocked out by a line drive off his head against Baltimore and pitched poorly against the Orioles in his third.

He was in control against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs, just one of them earned. He struck out three and walked none.

The Yankees backed him with 14 hits. Posada went 3-for-5, falling a triple shy of a cycle, and drove in four runs. He had an RBI double in the four-run fourth, singled in the fifth, and hit his first home run of the season in the sixth.

Former Yankee Ted Lilly (0-2) allowed six runs and six hits – including five doubles – in 3 1/3 innings.

Yankees designated hitter Ruben Sierra left after doubling twice, with the team saying he had a stiff right elbow. Centerfielder Bernie Williams came out because of tenderness in his left knee after singling in the seventh.

New York took a 3-0 lead in the second on consecutive doubles by Hideki Matsui, Alex Rodriguez, and Sierra, and Tony Womack’s broken-bat RBI single with two outs.

Toronto’s Alex Rios tripled off the wall in right in the third and scored on Orlando Hudson’s sacrifice fly, but the Yankees broke open the game in the fourth. After Posada’s double, Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams had run scoring singles and Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk.

Posada homered in the sixth off Matt Whiteside. Womack was hit on the left knee by a pitch during the inning but stayed in the game.

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MLB WON’T PUNISH SHEFFIELD

Outfielder Gary Sheffield won’t be punished for his role in a scuffle with fans at Fenway Park last week.

Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline, made the decision yesterday, a day after meeting with Sheffield and the right fielder’s agent at Yankee Stadium.

“It just proves that I was right,” Sheffield said before last night’s game. “I’m just glad I was an example of how to handle a situation without making it worse or hurting the Yankees, or any organization, for that matter, or any sport.”

The Commissioner’s office said Watson concluded the fan reached over the barrier near the right-field corner during the April 14 game in Boston and “struck Sheffield on the head as he was attempting to field a ball in play.”

“Sheffield in response swung his arms in an effort to extricate himself from the situation and to avoid further abuse, then completed the play and returned to confront the fan,” the statement continued. “At that time, no further altercation occurred, Red Sox security stepped in promptly, and order was restored. Under the circumstances, Bob Watson concluded that discipline for Sheffield was not warranted.”