come off the disabled list right after the All-Star break July 20-22 against the Mets. … GM Brian Cashman said if everything goes well, RHP Masahiro Tanaka (two strained hamstrings) will make a minor league rehab start this w

CHARLOTTE Devin Singletary Jersey , N.C. (AP) — Panthers coach Ron Rivera learned a valuable lesson when he took over defensive play-calling duties midway through last season: You can’t afford to be predictable in today’s NFL.That’s why Rivera is mixing in a three-man defensive front — along with a few other surprises — to go along with the base 4-3 defensive scheme the Panthers have used the last eight seasons.“The biggest thing is that we are playing so many multiple style offenses that you just can’t line up and let them attack you,” said Rivera, who previously spent six seasons as a defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers.That’s one reason Carolina drafted Brian Burns in the first round and Christian Miller in the fourth and signed free agent Bruce Irvin, speed edge rushers who have the flexibility to drop into coverage.The Panthers have regularly been a top 10 defense, which led to them losing defensive coordinators Sean McDermott and Steve Wilks to head coaching jobs elsewhere. Last year Carolina promoted Eric Washington as its third defensive coordinator in three seasons, but when things began to fall apart on that side of the ball Rivera stepped in to assume play-calling duties.“In the middle of the year I started doing some different things, and I saw that every time we did some of those things positive things happened,” Rivera said.That included disguising blitzes, dropping defensive linemen into coverage and mixing up defensive fronts, among other tweaks.The problem was the Panthers didn’t have the personnel to do all of the things Rivera wanted to do, which is why general manager Marty Hurney sought out adding versatile edge rushers.Burns, in particular, is viewed as an integral part of the team’s future in this new more diverse defensive scheme.“It makes the defense more versatile and I come from a school that did it all of the time,” said Burns, who played at Florida State. “We played a 4-3, a 3-4 and a whole bunch of other packages, so I’m used to rushing the passer and dropping” into coverage.He’s also familiar with the lingo involved, which should allow him to play more freely and without overthinking things.“Just being able to do both, no offense can really scheme me or know when I am coming at any particularly play http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dawson-knox-jersey ,” Burns said. “I can disguise as if I’m dropping and really come off the edge and that can free up me or other people.”When the Panthers go to a 3-4 front look for two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short to slide out to defensive end.The Panthers are hoping to land free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to play inside alongside Short in their base four-man front. McCoy was cut by Tampa Bay in a salary cap move last month and is deciding between Baltimore, Cleveland and Carolina.The Panthers visited with McCoy last week and Rivera said the meeting went very well. He thinks the Panthers have a “good chance” of signing him, but added that other teams probably feel the same way.“He’s a guy we would love to have here to be a part of what we’re doing,” Rivera said. “He’s going through the process so we are waiting to see what the outcome is going to be.”The Panthers are still in the early stages of installing their new defensive looks, but Rivera has been pleased by the team’s retention.Now, he said, it’s a matter of time to see how much of what the team is installing can be effectively used this season.“It’s neat to see the things you are capable of doing, but we won’t know (how much) until we get into the preseason or regular season,” Rivera said.NOTES: Cam Newton did not throw a football during Monday’s practice, which was open to the media. However, Rivera said Newton did throw some last week during closed practice sessions. Those are the QB’s first throws since undergoing arthroscopic surgery in January in his right shoulder. He is expected to be ready to practice when training camp arrives. First, it was third-string catcher Kyle Higashioka getting the silent treatment in the dugout after a home run. Then, the same for Aaron Hicks when he hit homer No. 3.

On a 91-degree night with the pennant race heating up, the New York Yankees enjoyed some more yucks against their biggest rival.

Hicks launched three home runs and the Yankees pummeled David Price again, connecting five times in the first four innings Sunday on the way to an 11-1 rout of the Boston Red Sox.

”It feels awesome,” Hicks said. ”I blacked out after the third one. Kind of didn’t know what to do. But I mean, it’s exciting.”

Luis Severino became the first 13-game winner in the majors, cruising through 6 2/3 shutout innings of two-hit ball after the Bronx Bombers quickly built him a big cushion. With the teams trading blowouts all weekend, the Yankees (54-27) took two of three from Boston to regain baseball’s best record and first place in the AL East.

”It’s going to be a dogfight. We have a good team Brian Burns Jersey , they have a good team,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. ”A weird series, honestly. It was very weird. Weird games.”

Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres also homered for New York, which leads the 19-game season series 5-4. The next time the teams meet is early August at Fenway Park.

”I’m sure it’s going to be a fun few months,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

The first Yankees leadoff batter to hit three home runs in a game, Hicks connected twice from the right side of the plate and once from the left. He smacked a two-run shot to right field in the second inning and a solo drive to center in the fourth that chased Price (9-6) and made it 8-0.

Hicks pulled his 14th of the season into the right-field stands in the eighth off Hector Velazquez. It was the first three-homer game by a Yankees player since Alex Rodriguez, part of the ESPN broadcast crew Sunday, accomplished the feat at Minnesota in July 2015.

The only other Yankees hitter to go deep three times at the current Yankee Stadium was Curtis Granderson in April 2012 against the Twins.

Judge had three hits and scored three times. Torres socked a three-run shot that gave New York a 4-0 lead in the first, and the Yankees finished with a season-high six homers to boost their major league-leading total to 137, setting a franchise record for before the All-Star break.

Exactly halfway through its season, New York is on pace to surpass the 1997 Seattle Mariners’ mark of 264 homers.

”That’s probably as good a night as we’ve had all year,” Boone said. ”Obviously, a big series to grab it on Sunday here. That’s a peak at what we can do.”

Higashioka homered into the second deck in left field off Price for his first major league hit after an 0-for-22 start to his career. Higashioka, wearing No. 66 in pinstripes, received the silent treatment when he returned to the bench before happy teammates finally engulfed him.

”The feeling is indescribable,” Higashioka said at his locker, the team’s championship belt for the night draped over his chair. ”I laughed. I didn’t expect that, but I mean, obviously it was amazing. It was just a great feeling.”

Price was rocked for eight earned runs – matching a career high – and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-greg-little-jersey , his latest flop against the Yankees. He had never given up more than three homers in a game.

Severino (13-2) lowered his AL-leading ERA to 1.98 and improved to 8-0 at home this season. He walked off to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 46,795 and tipped his cap , right on track to become the first Yankees pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roger Clemens in 2001.

”It means a lot,” Severino said. ”Facing the Red Sox is one of the best things in baseball.”

Boston (56-29) was outhit 16-4 and didn’t score until the ninth.

THE PRICE IS WRONG

Making his 40th career appearance (39th start) vs. the Yankees, Price fell to 2-6 with an 8.43 ERA in nine starts against them since signing a $217 million contract with Boston before the 2016 season. He has faced New York twice this year, allowing 12 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, and is 0-5 with a 10.44 ERA in his last five starts at Yankee Stadium.

”Honestly, I felt fine. They put some good swings on what I felt like were pretty good pitches,” said Price, who entered 7-1 with a 2.72 ERA in nine starts since being diagnosed with a mild case of carpal tunnel syndrome that caused him to miss a scheduled turn at New York in May. ”I’ve faced the Yankees many times. It’s time for me to kind of go back to that drawing board.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: Right-handed reliever Tyler Thornburg is expected back this week after rehabbing from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last June.

Yankees: Higashioka started at catcher for Austin Romine, who exited Saturday’s game with tightness in his left hamstring. A precautionary MRI was negative, and Romine was available off the bench. He could return to the lineup Monday night against Atlanta. Romine has been filling in for All-Star backstop Gary Sanchez (groin), who might be able to come off the disabled list right after the All-Star break July 20-22 against the Mets. … GM Brian Cashman said if everything goes well, RHP Masahiro Tanaka (two strained hamstrings) will make a minor league rehab start this week and rejoin the Yankees early next week in Baltimore – perhaps in time to pitch in a July 9 doubleheader.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Three interleague games at Washington, where RHP Rick Porcello (9-3, 3.60 ERA) faces former Detr