DUNEDIN, Fla. – Tony Womack was hit in the left knee by a pitch from David Bush and had to leave the Yankees’ 8-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday.

Womack was hit two pitches after Jorge Posada homered in the second inning. The Yankees’ new second baseman was taken to a nearby Tampa hospital for X-rays, which were negative. He will have an MRI today.

“It hurts,” Womack said. “It doesn’t feel good.”

Manager Joe Torre didn’t rule out Womack returning this week.

“They’ll do all the tests,” Torre said. “Hopefully, it’s just a couple days.”

When asked if he thought it was intentional, Womack said, “You’d have to ask him. Second pitch after the bomb, it’s not that far-fetched.”

Bush denied any premeditation even though Yankees starter Jaret Wright hit Reed Johnson in the first.

“I’m never going to throw at a guy just because I’m getting hit around,” said Bush, who gave up seven runs and eight hits in five innings.

Both benches were warned after Womack was hit. Wright then plunked Orlando Hudson on an 0-1 pitch with Johnson on first and no outs in the third but was allowed to remain in the game.

“I’m was happy that the home plate umpire [Chad Fairchild] didn’t overreact when Jaret hit Hudson,” Torre said. “Just because somebody else gets hit, you’ve still got to allow the pitcher to pitch in and off the plate.”

Ruben Sierra and Gary Sheffield also homered for the Yankees. Wright allowed two runs and four hits over six innings.

Bernie Williams went 2-for-4 in his first major league game since straining his upper back March 20. He flew out, singled, grounded out, and had an RBI triple after going 2-for-5 with a walk in a minor league game Sunday.

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera allowed one hit over a scoreless inning in the second half of back-to-back games. Rivera missed a week earlier this spring with mild bursitis in his right elbow. He has given up two hits in seven shutout innings so far this spring.

“I’m ready,” Rivera said. “I feel good. No doubts.”

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METS OUTSLUG CARDINALS

Mike Piazza hit a two-run homer, his third of the spring, and Carlos Beltran went 2-for-3 with an RBI as the Mets outslugged the Cardinals 13-10 in Jupiter, Fla., yesterday.

Mets starter Kris Benson was roughed up, allowing seven runs – two earned – in 5 2 / 3 innings. Former Yankee Felix Heredia came on in relief and recorded one out in the sixth inning for the win.

Second baseman Kaz Matsui drove in three runs and was 1-for-4.