Tanaka outduels Price as Yanks top Red Sox 3-1, avoid sweep … NEW YORK — Just a couple of days into the season's second half, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said his team needed to win this one.  —  Fortunately for New York, he had the right men on the mound.

Patriotic Jonny Gomes crushed Royals aren't inviting him to White House  —  The Royals did not invite Jonny Gomes for their visit to the White House on Thursday.  And Gomes, who makes no secret of his patriotism, is crushed.  —  “I've been sent down.  I've been non-tendered, whatever,” Gomes said.

Twins Fire Terry Ryan  —  The Twins announced today that they have relieved general manager Terry Ryan of his duties.  Longtime assistant GM Rob Antony will act as the team's new general manager on an interim basis.  Unlike many teams the dismiss their GM midseason, the Twins will not delay …

The case for Kyle Schwarber to the Yankees and other trade rumors  —  Brian Cashman is a sinner.  —  So long as geographically boundaries are stretched and New York is considered a neighbor to Chicago, he is spending his July breaking the 10th Commandment: “Thou shalt not covet your neighbor's house.

Could MLB trim its season to 154 games? … After taking steps recently to shorten the games, will Major League Baseball's next significant move be to trim the length of the season?  —  Sounds radical.  But with negotiations already underway to craft a new collective-bargaining agreement …

Indians' Yan Gomes has A/C joint separation, out 4-8 weeks  —  Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes has been diagnosed with an A/C joint separation of his right shoulder and will be out approximately four to eight weeks, the team announced.  —  The team officially placed Gomes …

Ex-Cardinals executive Christopher Correa gets 46-month sentence for hacking Astros  —  Former St. Louis Cardinals executive Christopher Correa was sentenced to 46 months in prison Monday for his role in hacking the Astros' computer database.  —  Correa, 35, the Cardinals' former director …

Angels Claim Sean Coyle From Red Sox  —  The Angels have claimed minor league second baseman Sean Coyle off waivers from the Red Sox, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports (via Twitter).  The 24-year-old was designated for assignment by Boston last week.  —  Coyle once rated as one of the …

Rick Porcello slams MLB's ‘failed’ drug-testing program  —  Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello knows what it's like to experience baseball heartache and have a postseason berth hinge on one game, when his previous team, the Tigers, lost a one-game playoff to Minnesota in 2009 …

My Favorite Under-the-Radar Trade Deadline Target  —  We are now officially two weeks away from MLB's non-waiver trade deadline, and one thing is clear: over the next 14 days, you're going to see a lot of relievers on the move.  The teams that are definitely selling don't have many starting pitchers to move …

Devin Mesoraco Undergoes Right Hip Surgery  —  Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco, already out for the season due to shoulder surgery, underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his right hip, the team announced today (Twitter link).  Per the Reds, Mesoraco is targeting a mid- or late-January return to catching drills.