My colleague, Larry McFarland, asked me today, “So, must-win Sunday for Yankees?”

I turned, gave him a steely glare and said, “Yes it is.”

I don’t care what anyone says: It’s a must-win in Yankeeland on Sunday. Randy Johnson must turn in a vintage performance against the Red Sox, or the Yankees can forget about the AL East — and maybe even the Wild Card.

Johnson, who turned 42 on Saturday, seeks his fourth victory in five starts against the Red Sox this year. This is the kind of the game the Big Unit is paid to win.

Tim Wakefield, who’s 1-2 this year with a 3.58 ERA against the Yankees, gets the call for Boston. The record, though, shouldn’t matter because Wakefield is rolling right now.

The Yankees need to come out and get some runs early. They need to pressure Wakefield from the onset. If he gets into a groove, game over.

And season over.