Yankees Vs. Rays, New York Falls 3-0 On Sunday, Swept In Season-Opening Series

The New York Yankees fell 3-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. With the loss, the Yankees were swept in the season-opening series, 3-0. The Yankees haven't started the season off 0-3 since 1998.

The Yankees bats were cold up against Jeremy Hellickson on Sunday. Hellickson went 8.2 innings, struck out four and walked four while only allowing three hits. Fernando Rodney picked up his second save of the series when he got the final out in the 9th. Phil Hughes was credited with the loss for New York. Hughes went 4.2 innings, gave up 2 earned runs on five hits while walking two and striking out five.

Matt Joyce's triple in the first inning sent Evan Longoria home and started the scoring. Carlos Pena went yard again in the series in the 3rd inning. Pena homered as part of a 5 RBI day in the first game of the series which New York lost, 7-6. Jeff Keppinger's solo shot in the 6th inning was the only other run of the game. Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher had the only hits of the game for New York.

The Yankees scored 12 runs in the first two games of the series before getting shutout on Sunday. The Yankees gave up 18 runs during the three-game series.

For more on the Yankees, check out the SB Nation blog Pinstripe Alley, while D-Rays Bay is all about the Rays.

Rays Vs. Yankees: New York Looks To Avoid Series Sweep From Tampa Bay

The New York Yankees will try to avoid a season-opening, three-game sweep form the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, as Phil Hughes opposes the Ray's Jeremy Hellickson (1:40 p.m. ET on YES Network/TBS) at Tropicana Field. The pitching match-up will showcase two young hurlers, who each have the potential to be their franchises front-line starters.

On Saturday, one of Tampa Bay's franchise pitchers, David Price, out-dueled a struggling Hiroki Kuroda, as the Rays won 8-6. The victory followed up a Opening Day win that came behind a solid start from James Shields. If the Rays can get a solid start from Hellickson, they will be in good shape to earn a series sweep of the Yankees, who will have lost to the Rays six straight times dating back to last season's season-ending series.

However, the hope is Hughes, who went 5-5 with a 5.79 ERA, has a bounce-back season and returns to his '10 form -- 18-8 and 4.19 ERA.

Both Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez will be in the lineup for the Yankees, who will be giving catcher Russell Martin the day off as Christ Stweart makes his 2012 debut. Designated hitter Raul Ibanez also returns to the batting order, as Jeter returns to the field.

For more on the Yankees, check out the SB Nation blog Pinstripe Alley, while D-Rays Bayis all about the Rays.

Yankees Vs. Rays Final Score: Tampa Bay Bashes Kuroda, Yankees 8-6

Hiroki Kuroda's New York debut didn't go quite as planned, allowing six runs in less than six innings of work and taking the loss in a Tampa Bay Rays 8-6 win over the Yankees on Saturday night.

Kuroda allowed runs in each of the first three innings, including a pair in his first inning on the mound for the Yankees.

The Yankees offense didn't fare much better against Rays starter David Price, who went six and one third strong innings, allowing just two runs.

A ninth inning rally from New York came up short, as they weren't able to overcome a six run deficit heading into the final frame. Nick Swisher connected on a three run homer to shave the margin down to 8-6, but Alex Rodriguez grounded out to end the game.

These two teams will finish out their series on Sunday afternoon, when Phil Hughes makes his season debut for New York against talented youngster Jeremy Hellickson.

For more on the Yankees, check out the SB Nation blog Pinstripe Alley, while D-Rays Bayis all about the Rays.

Yankees Vs. Rays Preview, Game 2: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New York Yankees look to bounce back from a disappointing opening-day loss against the Tampa Rays when the two teams meet Saturday for the second leg of their three-game series. (Game Time: 7:10 p.m., TV Schedule: YES)

Hiroki Kuroda will make his first start for the Yankees after signing with the club in January. The right-hander was 13-16 last season while accumulating the third-most losses in the MLB, but established a career best with a 3.07 ERA.

Kuroda's counterpart will be David Price, who took a step back last season to finish 12-13 with a 3.49 ERA one year after finishing second in the AL Cy Young voting.

New York took a 6-5 lead into the ninth inning during Friday's season opener, but Mariano Rivera surrendered two runs in the ninth while blowing his first save attempt of the season.

For more on the Yankees, check out the SB Nation blog Pinstripe Alley, while D-Rays Bay is all about the Rays.

Rays Vs. Yankees: Mariano Rivera Blows Save, New York Falls On The Road In Season-Opener

The New York Yankees lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-6, in the 2012 season-opener from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday.

The Yankees trailed 4-0 after the first inning. CC Sabathia intentionally walked Sean Rodriguez which loaded the bases. Carlos Pena made him pay with a grand slam to clear the bases.

The Yankees then picked up two runs in the second inning and four runs in the third inning to take the lead. A Raul Ibanez ground out sent home Alex Rodriguez in the second and then Mark Teixeira got home from third when James Shields threw a wild pitch. Nick Swisher hit into a fielder's choice in the third inning to score Robinson Cano. Ibanez then hit a three-run homer to score A-Rod and Swisher. Ibanez only went 1-5 at the plate but provided 4 RBI for the team. A-Rod was 2-3 at the plate with 2 walks and 2 runs.

The Rays got one run back on an Evan Longoria solo homer in the bottom of the third. The Rays were down to their last three outs when they got the tying run against Mariano Rivera. Desmond Jennings hit a comeback single against Rivera and then Ben Zobrist promptly got Jennings home with a triple to deep right center field. The Yankees walked the next two batters. Pena drilled a pitch to deep left center field to end the game.

Sabbathia finished six innings. He allowed 8 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks and 2 home runs while striking out 7 batters. Rafael Soriano walked one and struck out one in one inning of work. David Robertson came into the game in the 8th inning. He struck out three batters and walked one. Rivera came on in the 9th inning to close out the contest but blew the save after two batters. Rivera took the loss and allowed three hits, two runs and two walks while only striking out one batter. All of the Yankees' runs came against James Shields who went five innings. Fernando Rodney, who pitched a scoreless 9th, picked up the win for Tampa Bay.

For more on the Yankees, check out the SB Nation blog Pinstripe Alley, while D-Rays Bay is all about the Rays.

Michael Pineda Injury Update: Pineda Says He's 'Feeling Much Better Now,' But Expected To Miss All Of April

New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda, who was placed on the 15-day DL prior to making a single regular season start with the team, is expected to miss the entire month of April according to Bryan Hoch of Yankees.com.

Pineda struggled with his velocity throughout spring training but denied feeling any pain. But after the 23-year old surrendered six runs in two and two-thirds innings during his final spring training outing, he complained of shoulder discomfort. An MRI revealed no structural damage but Pineda was diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis, a troublesome sign for the young pitcher the Yankees acquired in an offseason trade for Jesus Montero.

Pineda told the Newark Star-Ledger on Wednesday that he is "feeling much better now," but still does not know what he will do for rehab.

For more on the Yankees, be sure to check out Pinstripe Alley and SB Nation New York for news, notes and updates.

Yankees Opening Day 2012: New York Lineup, Batting Order Posted

The New York Yankees are hours away from opening-up their 2012 season Friday, and the lineup has already been posted by YES Network via Twitter. Now if you're a Yankee historian, then you might want to bookmark this page, so in the future you can use it as a reference.

Jokes aside, nothing unexpected from manger Joe Girardi, who posted this lineup and batting order for the Yanks match-up with the Tampa Bay Rays, which begins at 3:10 p.m. ET:

1) Derek Jeter, SS
2) Curtis Granderson, CF
3) Robinson Cano, 2B
4) Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5) Mark Teixeira, 1B
6) Nick Swisher, RF
7) Raul Ibanez, DH
8) Russell Martin, C
9) Brett Gardner, LF

On the mound for New York is ace CC Sabathia, who will oppose Tampa Bay's James Shields. Also, if needed, the Yankees Mariano Rivera will close out the game in the begging of his 18th season.

For more on the Yankees, check out the SB Nation blog Pinstripe Alley, while D-Rays Bay is all about the Rays.

Rays vs. Yankees: New York Begins 2012 Season At Tampa Bay

The New York Yankees begins their quest for a 28th World Series Championship Friday, as they visit the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field (3:10 p.m. ET).