YANKEE NOTES

With Mariano Rivera on the 15-day DL yet again with a strained shoulder, and the Yankees bereft of the best closer in baseball for the third time this season, one question hung in the air at the Stadium last night:

Can the Bombers win without Mo?

“I don’t know,” Rivera said bluntly before his Yankees opened a three-game series against AL West leader Anaheim with a 7-5 win. “But I’ll be available [by October]. That question won’t be there. I’ll be available, guys.”

The 32-year-old Rivera – who had been disabled only once in his career before this season – has made three trips to the DL this year. And while the Yanks survived both of those, going 8-6 each time in the games he missed, the question is, can they overcome this one?

Last night was a good start, as Ramiro Mendoza and Mike Stanton combined for 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief in the win.

Rivera went back on the DL after a Monday MRI revealed another strain.

“It’s frustrating,” said Rivera, who has 27 saves – 3-for-3 since returning from the DL Aug. 8. “I was there only once for my groin in ’98, and now I’m breaking records. It’s like I can’t get out of [the DL]. It’s just one of those years. I just have to battle through it, work through it. I want to be there now, but I can’t.

“Hopefully we’ll keep doing what we’re doing, and I’ll be there for the playoffs. I don’t want to miss that show. If it takes all the way through September to get ready for the playoffs, that’s what we’ll do. I can’t tell you I’ll be ready next week, because I’d be lying to you. But I will be ready [by October], no doubt at all.”

Steve Karsay and Stanton took turns closing during Rivera’s first two DL stints, and Ramiro Mendoza will join in for situational duty. Karsay’s set-up role will be handled by starter-turned-reliever Jeff Weaver.

*

Yanks are now 65-1 when leading after eight innings. …

Derek Jeter is 15-for-40 (.375) after last night’s 1-for-4 outing. His hot streak followed a 3-for-26 slide. He’s now hitting .302. …

Bernie Williams went 3-for-5 last night to stretch his streak of multi-hit games to 10. He’s now 53 for his last 118 (.449), bringing his overall batting average to .343.

*

Orlando Hernandez (6-3, 3.54 ERA) faces RHP Ramon Ortiz (10-9, 4.22) today at 1:05 p.m., while LHP David Wells (13-6, 4.22) goes against RHP John Lackey (5-2, 3.11) tomorrow at 7:05 p.m.