.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: RHP Bryan Mitchell could start a minor league rehab assignment in the next week, four months after surgery to repair a toe tear on his left foot. Mitchell had a rain-shortened

Its the vision Virginia Tech had when it hired Justin Fuente as coach: A high octane offense combined with a resurgent defense led by Bud Foster guiding the Hokies back into the national discussion as an elite program.The Hokies (3-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) returned to the Top 25 this week at No. 25, and travel to North Carolina to face the No. 17 Tar Heels (4-1, 2-0) on Saturday.Right guard Augie Conte thinks the Hokies have something to prove.Ive never been part of a ranked team here at Virginia Tech where weve actually been ranked and gone out and defended it next week, which is something that Im not necessarily happy about, Conte said, but youre not ranked until you can go out and defend it and prove that you are in a spot where you should be.Virginia Tech hasnt been ranked since the week after it beat Ohio State at the start of the 2014 season. They checked into the poll at No. 17, but lost their next two against East Carolina and Georgia Tech.Conte and his teammates like the recognition, but dont want it to cloud their mission.I guess its cool to get recognized and all that, but I mean, our goal at the beginning of the year wasnt really to be ranked, it was to win the ACC Championship and get some rings, defensive end Ken Ekanem said. But beating North Carolina this Saturday definitely helps us on our way to our goal, so its obviously a big game.The ranking probably means more around campus than in the locker room, running back Sam Rogers said.A lot of people try to put a lot of hype around the game, he said. Were excited because its a great opponent and its an ACC rival, so were excited just to go out there and show what we can do, not so much about where well be after. That stuff will take care of itself.The Tar Heels played for the ACC championship last season and have continued to impress under coach Larry Fedora, now in his fifth season. They have consecutive final-second victories against Pittsburgh and at No. 23 Florida State, but Fedora is equally impressed with how quickly Virginia Tech has gelled in Fuentes first season.Justins done a great job with them, he said. First of all, a Bud Foster defense is like it always is every single year. Theres energy, its tough, they do a tremendous job. And then Justins brought in a more wide-open offense with a quarterback that can beat you with his legs or his arm. Im going to compare it to kind of some of the things that we do on offense. I think theyve got a really good football team, a really good football team.The Hokies have been led on offense by quarterback Jerod Evans, a transfer from Trinity Valley Community College in Texas. The junior has guided an offense that has produced at least 450 yards three times in four games, the first time a Hokies offense has done that since 2000.In four games, Evans has thrown for 13 touchdowns and been intercepted just once. Those numbers would be the best in the conference if not for the Tar Heels Mitch Trubisky, who has 13 TDs and no interceptions.North Carolina has won nine straight at home, which only ups the ante as far as the Hokies are concerned. They have yet to play a true road game, though they did face No. 9 Tennessee in the Battle at Bristol on Sept. 10.Since joining the ACC in 2004, Virginia Tech is 10-3 against ranked opponents on the road.Its definitely fun going into an away stadium and just facing more adversity like that, Rogers said. I really like going in and all the odds are stacked against you. I feel like thats where we do best.---AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard in Chapel Hill, N.C., contributed to this report.---Online: The APs college football page: http://collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Hank on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjrFake Yeezy Boost 350 v2 For Sale . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Air Max Plus Cheap .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. http://www.nikeshoesoutletwholesale.com/yeezy-boost-700-sale.html . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Nike Shox Outlet Sale . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Adidas NMD Wholesale . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The New York Yankees second consecutive loss to Tampa Bay could push them to deal more veterans as the trade deadline pushes.Drew Smyly struck out Alex Rodriguez three times en route to stopping an 11-start winless streak, and the Rays sent the Yankees to their third straight loss, 6-3 Saturday night.New York had won eight of 10 to reach a season-best four games over .500 before the skid but dropped to 52-51. Having already traded closer Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees could deal right fielder Carlos Beltran, pitcher Ivan Nova, reliever Andrew Miller or others before Mondays deadline to make trades without waivers.Theyre frustrating losses, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Weve been inconsistent all season long.San Francisco and the Chicago White Sox both had two scouts at the game. Others teams scouting the series include Baltimore, the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Texas, Toronto and Washington.I cant worry about that, Girardi said.Not even a night off could keep Yankees catcher Brian McCann out of the spotlight. He was asked about the possibility Atlanta would try to reacquire the former Braves star.Im focusing on winning games here, said McCann, who added that he has not been approached about waiving his no-trade provision.Rodriguez, out of the starting lineup the previous six games, struck out in all four of his at-bats to tie his personal high. The 41-year-old designated hitter has two hits in his last 26 at-bats, dropping his season average to .206.I didnt do myself any favors tonight, thats for sure, Rodriguez said. I swung at balls and took strikes. Its been a frustrating season all the way around.Girardi wouldnt say if Rodriguez will be his DH on Sunday against rookie left-hander Blake Snell.ddddddddddddThe second half has been a struggle, Girardi said of Rodriguez. And it was a struggle for him tonight.Smyly (3-11) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings, and Alex Colome worked the ninth to get his 24th save. Tampa Bay is 7-5 since losing 24 of 27.Tonight was the best hes felt with his curveball in quite some time, Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Brad Miller hit a solo homer in the first, and Curt Casali had a two-run drive during the third. Tim Beckham made it 6-2 on a two-run shot in the seventh off Anthony Swarzak.Brett Gardner and Chase Headley homered for the Yankees. Nathan Eovaldi (9-7) allowed three runs and three hits in six innings.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: RHP Bryan Mitchell could start a minor league rehab assignment in the next week, four months after surgery to repair a toe tear on his left foot. Mitchell had a rain-shortened 21-pitch simulated game and said he feels great and absolutely expects to pitch in the majors this season. ... LHP Jacob Lindgren, out since late April with a left elbow injury, also pitched a simulated game.Rays: RHP Chase Whitley (Tommy John surgery) made his third rehab start, striking out five over three hitless innings for Double-A Montgomery.ELLSBURYS GROWING RECORDNew Yorks Jacoby Ellsbury extended his season record for times reaching base on catchers interference to 10 when it happened again in the eighth inningUP NEXTYankees RHP Michael Pineda (5-9) will face Snell (2-4. Pineda has won his last two starts. ' ' '