YANKEE NOTES

Like every other Yankee not named Jason Giambi, Jorge Posada didn’t do much against Tim Wakefield

yesterday.

However, having him healthy enough to DH was a sigh of relief.

“I felt good, it went all right,” said Posada, who missed Saturday’s game with a jammed right shoulder, the

result of a Friday night collision with Jason Varitek at the plate.

Posada went 0-for-2 and walked. He said he will be able to return to being a catcher tomorrow night against the Devil Rays.

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Gary Sheffield missed his fourth straight game with a strained left thigh. Joe Torre hinted before the game that Sheffield may have been able to pinch-hit yesterday, but he didn’t use him.

The plan is for Sheffield to pinch hit in a game, then DH before returning to right field.

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According to Elias Sports Bureau, Mariano Rivera’s 32 saves against the Red Sox are the highest total against them by a pitcher. Rivera, who blew his first two chances against the World Champions this year, has converted the past six.

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Bubba Crosby started in right field yesterday for the ice-cold Matt Lawton.

“Matt Lawton is pressing,” Torre said of the left-handed hitting outfielder who is 4-for-37 (.108) since joining the

Yankees and hitless in the last 15 at-bats.

Crosby had one of the Yankees’ three hits off Wakefield, a one-out triple in the third. He was stranded when Derek Jeter struck out looking and Robinson Cano fanned swinging.

Cano had the other hit, a one-out double in the sixth, but Giambi fanned looking and Alex Rodriguez went down swinging.

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Injured starter Mike Mussina played catch for the third straight day yesterday and will participate in a bullpen session tomorrow.

“He will do a light bullpen Tuesday and a full bullpen, which will be like a game, Friday,” Torre said of Mussina, who will miss a third start Thursday due to an inflamed right elbow.

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RHP Jaret Wright (4-2; 5.76 ERA) opens a three-game series against the troublesome Devil Rays tomorrow night in St. Petersburg. RHP Doug Waechter (5-9; 5.04) goes for the hosts. … Randy Johnson posted his 260th career win and is tied with Ted Lyons for 37th on the all-time list.