YANKEE NOTES

No. 402 was classic Gary Sheffield. On a 1-2 pitch from Oriole Eddy Rodriguez in the sixth inning yesterday, Sheffield twisted his body and unleashed a solo homer over the left-field wall.

After failing to covert a two-out bases-loaded RBI chance in the third, Sheffield rebounded with an RBI groundout in the fifth and the sixth-inning solo shot.

He now has 23 homers on the season and 402 for his career.

In the third, with Orioles’ starter Erik Bedard wild, Sheffield had a chance to open up the Yankees’ scoring. After a two-out John Flaherty double and two walks, Sheffield popped out foul behind home plate.

On Tuesday in Toronto, Sheffield became the 38th player with 400 career homers. He was the sixth to reach the mark as a Yankee. He added another homer Wednesday night in Toronto.

*

With three straight Orioles lefties due up in the sixth and Joe Torre looking to make a pitching change, righty Scott Proctor entered while Felix Heredia remained in the bullpen . . . Mike Mussina, out since the middle of July with a stiff right elbow, could go on a minor-league rehab assignment by the end of the week, Torre said. With the Yankees failing to acquire Randy Johnson, Torre said he feels confident as long as Mussina and Kevin Brown are healthy. Torre said Brown responded well after throwing 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball against the Orioles on Friday. He was out since June 9 with parasite and back problems . . . Derek Jeter has gone 40 straight games without committing an error. It is the longest steak of his career.