Nightly Links: Recap, Nunez, Stewart

• Opening day for the Yankees and Rays began with fireworks on both sides. The pitching matchup, CC Sabathia v. James Shields, should have been a battle of arms, instead it was a battle of hits. With the Rays batting in the first inning, Sabathia walked Desmond Jennings, gave up a single to Longoria, and then Girardi called for the intentional walk to Sean Rodriguez. Carlos Pena took advantage of his bases loaded situation, and hit a grandslam in his first at bat back with the Rays. The Yankees were able to get 2 runs off of a struggling Shields in the second inning thanks to a Raul Ibanez ground out and a wild pitch ball 4 to Russell Martin. In the third the Yankees were able to yet again get men on against the Ray’s ace, and scored on a fielder’s choice (terrible play) by Carlos Pena trying to throw Cano out at home. In the next at bat, Raul Ibanez hit the first Yankee homerun of the year, a 3 run homerun making the score 6-4. Evan Longoria answered back in the bottom of the 3rd with a homerun of his own, but after that both pitchers settled down.

• Without much help from homeplate umpite Joe West, Sabathia went 6.0 innings, giving up 8 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and earning 7 strikeouts. Setup guys Rafael Soriano went 1.0 inning, 1 BB, 1 K, and David Robertson went 1.0 innings 1 hit, 1 walk, and struckout the side. Of course, Houdini needed men on the corners to get the strikeouts going. It was a 6-5 game when Mariano Rivera was given his first save opportunity of the year, and after a single by Desmond Jennings and triple by Ben Zobrist, the game was tied. Girardi ordered Longoria and Luke Scott intentionally walked to set up the force play at each base, and after striking out Sean Rodriguez, Rivera gave up a huge flyball single off Pena’s bat to win the game for the Rays. Offensively, Robinson Cano went 2 for 5, Alex Rodriguez had a big day going 2 for 3, with 2 walks and 2 runs scored, and Gardner went 2 for 4 with 1 walk and 1 K. (Game Day) It was a frustrating but good game to start the season, and after today’s 7-6 loss, the team will face the Rays tomorrow night at 7:10pm on YES and the MLB Network. (RHP Hiroki Kuroda v. LHP David Price)

• Brien Jackson at It’s About the Money disagrees with Joe Girardi’s plan to to platoon Gardner and Andruw Jones this year, as well as play Eduardo Nunez against left-handed pitchers.

• FanGraphs wrapped up their 2012 Organizational Rankings today with the Yankees listed at #1. Mike Axisa does a great job of summing up the team’s strengths and weaknesses, but mostly strengths.

• Marc Carig from The Star-Ledger has the story on backup catcher Chris Stewart‘s journey getting to Tampa today.

• And today’s workouts, which includes Michael Pineda playing catch again today.

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