TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ Opening day starter Orlando Hernandez allowed one run in six innings and Derek Jeter had a pair of RBI singles as the New York Yankees won their seventh straight game Wednesday, 5-1 over the Philadelphia Phillies.

``You couldn't ask for a better situation time-wise and performance-wise,'' said Yankees manager Joe Torre of the 2 hour, 15 minute game. ``The only problem was ``El Duque'' didn't throw enough pitches. That's not a sin.''

Hernandez _ who needed just 73 pitches _ continued a masterful spring, giving up five hits and striking out four. In 23 innings over five starts, opponents scored just three runs off the right-hander.

``I'm pretty happy,'' Hernandez said through a translator. ``We've been preparing ourselves the best we can at spring training to get ready for the regular season.''

Roberto Kelly, Jorge Posada and Felix Jose hit solo homers for New York.

Bobby Abreu had a solo homer for the Phillies.

Jeter had run-scoring singles in the first and fifth innings. Kelly and Posada hit a sixth-inning homers. Jose homered in the seventh.

Philadelphia starter Chris Brock gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Despite a horrible start that saw the Yankees post a major league-worst 5-18 record before the current winning streak, New York got strong starting pitching.

``I learned that David Cone is not as old as he is ... I learned Roger Clemens is not as old as he is,'' Yankees pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre said. ``Andy Pettitte returned to a very nice form and I found out ``El Duque'' is for real.''

The only blemish was Ed Yarnall, who's bid for the No. 5 spot ended when he optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday. The left-hander gave up 25 runs in 9 1-3 innings.

The Yankees won't need a fifth starter until April 15.

``He needs to retool,'' Torre said. ``The 15th may be to soon for him.''

Ramiro Mendoza is expected to be the fifth starter.

``I've got a lot of confidence in Mendoza,'' Stottlemyre said. ``I was real happy with the way Mendoza pitched this spring. He finished spring training strong.''

Mendoza threw 10 shutout innings over his final two starts.

New York reliever Allen Watson, coming off a shoulder injury, worked a scoreless seventh inning. It was his third outing in four days, giving the Yankees optimism the left-hander might be ready by opening day.

The Yankees bullpen has allowed just one earned run in their last 26 innings. Notes:@ Phillies RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) will throw batting practice Thursday and is scheduled to pitch in a camp game Sunday. ... Andy Ashby, Paul Byrd and Robert Person will start the Phillies first three regular season games next week at Arizona. Randy Wolf and Chris Brock will take the hill at Houston. ... The Yankees are expected to start the season with 11 pitchers and Jim Leyritz as the backup catcher. ... Yarnall will pitch in a Triple-A game Friday.