While watching events unfold at Fenway Park late Sunday night, I turned to a trusted associate and suggested — after the Yankees had retaken a 7-5 lead following CC Sabathia squandering a 5-1 advantage — that whoever lost this contest would be greeted with near-apocalyptic reactions the following morning, despite it being just the first game of the 2010 season.

A day and a half later, it would seem the response is slightly measured, with ESPN’s Buster Olney already jumping on Bombers backstock Jorge Posada, hinting the catcher’s “ability to handle pitches may well be a growing concern.” The New York Daily News’ Matt Gagne goes further, citing Posada’s historic differences with A.J. Burnett (tonight’s starter) and a myriad of issues from Sunday evening.

After Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run homer to tie Sunday night’s game in the seventh inning, the Red Sox took the lead for good en route to their 9-7 victory when Kevin Youkilis doubled to left-center, then took third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a passed ball.

Posada appeared to be crossed up by Damaso Marte, but said the reliever “just missed location. One was a slider far out, and the other was a fastball up that was supposed to be down … Damaso just got a little wild.”

But there was still confusion surrounding Pedroia’s home run, which Chan Ho Park surrendered on a 2-1 pitch before being lifted in favor of Marte.

“I was trying to go away, but it was up and in,” Park said. “It was just one pitch and a home run, I missed my command. I just missed the location; that’s the way that (Pedroia) likes the ball.”

Posada, however, said, “It was supposed to a little further inside.”