ATLANTA (AP) -- It seemed like October all over again.

Orlando Hernandez dominated for seven innings. Ricky Ledee homered and drove in four runs. And the New York Yankees picked up where they left off in the World Series, defeating the Atlanta Braves 5-2 Friday night.

	Ricky Ledee puts the Yankees ahead for good with a three-run homer off Kevin Millwood in the fourth inning.

"It was a lot like it," said Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, remembering the four-game sweep of the Braves last fall. "We went out there very patient at the plate. El Duque pitched a great game. That was all we needed."

New York, which moved back into a tie with Boston for the AL East lead, used a familiar formula to beat the team with baseball's best record: dominating pitching and timely hitting.

That's the way it was last fall, when the Yankees blew away Atlanta for their third championship in four years. They won the Series opener 4-1, as Hernandez allowed just one hit in seven innings.

"It's a new season, new players," New York manager Joe Torre said, shrugging off the obvious comparisons. "This is another outstanding Braves club. But when the pitching is right, it's tough to hit. El Duque was right tonight."

Hernandez (5-4) was nearly as dominating Friday as he was in the Series, surrendering only four hits and striking out seven. He retired 10 of the last 11 hitters he faced, the streak broken when Brian Jordan reached on an error by Scott Brosius.

Hernandez, who skipped his previous start because of a sore back, snapped a four-game losing streak with his first win since April 23. The Yankees won for only the fifth time in their last 11 games.

"At times, you scratch your head and wonder when we're going to play well," Torre said. "Then, we play a team like the Braves and tend to business. It's a mystery to me."

Jeff Nelson surrendered Chipper Jones' 12th homer in the eighth before Mariano Rivera got four outs for his 13th save in 15 chances.

New York has the upper hand in the rivalry between the most dominant franchises in each league, also defeating the Braves in the 1996 World Series. The Yankees are seeking their sixth consecutive postseason appearance, while Atlanta, which has lost its last two games, appears headed toward its ninth straight division title.

"It's always fun playing a team of that caliber," Braves starter Kevin Millwood (4-4) said. "I'll be happy to see them again in October."

The Braves scored their other run in the third. Quilvio Veras singled with one out, stole second and came home on Andruw Jones' single to left-center.

The Yankees bounced back in the next inning against Millwood. With one out, Tino Martinez doubled over Andruw Jones' head in center, Jorge Posada walked and Ledee lined a fastball into the second row of the right-field stands for his fifth homer, a three-run shot.

Ledee struck again in the eighth off reliever Bruce Chen, doubling against the center-field wall to bring in another run. The Yankees outfielder also had a three-run homer and four RBI in New York's previous game, an 8-7 loss to Oakland on Wednesday night.

Ledee, who has struggled much of the season, has 11 hits in his last 33 at-bats to raise his average to .246. A left-handed hitter, he was more proud of the RBI double against Chen, a lefty, than he was the homer against the right-handed Millwood.

"I'm starting to relax. That's the only way I'm going to get things working," Ledee said. "Sometimes I get uncomfortable and down on myself. I'm trying to put that out of my mind and get some hits now."

Millwood went seven innings, giving up seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

"I thought I pitched pretty good," he said. "I made one mistake and it cost me. Any time you go seven innings and make only one mistake, that's not too bad."

Derek Jeter had an RBI double in the ninth against Kerry Ligtenberg.

Game notes
Rivera struck out Galarraga on three pitches to end the eighth. First batters are 1-for-19 against the New York closer. ... The Yankees are expected to formally announce the signing of pitcher Adrian "El Duquecito" Hernandez on Saturday. The Cuban defector will make his U.S. pro debut that night when he starts at home for Class A Tampa against Fort Myers in the Florida State League. ... Ho hum: Gold Glover Andruw Jones made another sensational catch, leaping in the seventh inning to snare Paul O'Neill's liner to the gap in left-center. ... The game attracted the third sellout of the year at Turner Field, 48,524. ... Braves reliever Greg McMichael has a slight tear in his right rotator cuff, a similar injury to the one that required surgery in October. Surgery is not an option for now. McMichael will rest his arm for the next two weeks, then begin a "conservative" rehab program.