As bad as Randy Johnson was yesterday, he couldn’t blame Jorge Posada.

In fact, Posada kept Johnson out of more trouble on two occasions and then added a solo homer for good measure in the Yankees’ 17-6 rout.

In the fifth – before Johnson walked three batters and gave up a run – Posada fielded a Vernon Wells nubber about halfway toward the mound and made a diving back-flip throw to pick up the out.

In the fourth, after the Yankees had handed Johnson a 7-5 lead, Johnson walked the leadoff man Aaron Hill, who entered batting .183. Poasada helped avert another rally by nailing Hill trying to steal second.

After the top of the sixth, a peeved Posada had at it with plate ump Bruce Dreckman. Posada, according to Torre, was mad Dreckman told him to relax after being hit by a back swing. Posada then led off the sixth with a solo homer into the upper deck.