Kyra Lambert added two foul shots to push the Blue Devils

MINNEAPOLIS -- The New York Yankees placed infielder Jayson Nix on the 15-day disabled list before their game Wednesday at Minnesota because of a strained right hamstring, and free agent infielder Luis Cruz was signed to fill in. Nix didnt play Tuesday against the Twins but said then he thought he would be able to play after a day to rest. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, however, an MRI test revealed a more severe Grade 2 strain than initially believed, and the team decided to shut down Nix. "I think we were all surprised," Girardi said, praising Nixs toughness but stressing the need for precaution with his injury-ravaged team. With Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira already on the disabled list, the Yankees are missing a whole lot of experience and production. Nix has started 40 games at shortstop and 24 games at third base, almost 80 per cent of their games with the season-long absences of Jeter and Rodriguez. Jeter has been recovering from surgery on his left ankle. Girardi said the team captain has been making progress in his rehabilitation and, he hopes, will soon return to the team. Another infielder, Eduardo Nunez, is on a rehab assignment with Class A Charleston for his strained left oblique. He is eligible to be activated this weekend, but Girardi declined to speculate on when Nunez would be back. The 29-year-old Cruz was let go by the Los Angeles Dodgers last week after hitting just .127 in 118 at-bats. Cruz has played shortstop, third base and second base during stints with Milwaukee and Pittsburgh since making his major league debut in 2008. Cruz was in the lineup Wednesday at shortstop, batting eighth. Wayne Gretzky Jersey . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Blues Jerseys 2021 . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. https://www.cheapblues.com/774z-jamie-mclennan-jersey-blues.html . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Jordan Binnington Jersey . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Sammy Blais Jersey . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke wants to show it once again belongs among the elite teams in womens basketball. Beating No. 3 South Carolina is a good way to prove it.Rebecca Greenwell scored seven of her 29 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes, leading the Blue Devils past the Gamecocks 74-63 on Sunday.I think it shows we can play with anyone out there, Greenwell said. We knew that from the beginning of the season, but now its just showing it to others.Oderah Chidom added 15 points to help the Blue Devils (9-1) earn their first victory over a top-three opponent since they knocked off No. 3 Ohio State in 2009.I wanted to make a statement, Chidom said, and South Carolinas a great team to do it against.Duke shot 50 percent and forced the Gamecocks (6-1) into a season-worst 19 turnovers, turning them into 28 points.Coach Dawn Staley said her team played undisciplined basketball.We wanted to stay really close to Greenwell, because we know what shes capable of, Staley said. And obviously, she made us pay.Aja Wilson scored 18 points and Kaela Davis added 14 for South Carolina, which pulled to 66-60 on Bianca Cuevas-Moores 3-pointer with 1:41 left and immediately called timeout.But the Gamecocks came out of that break and put six players on the court, earning them a technical foul. Greenwell hit two free throws with 1:40 remaining, and after Duke forced a stop, Kyra Lambert added two foul shots to push the Blue Devils lead to 70-60 with 1:05 remaining.BIG PICTURESouth Carolina: The Gamecocks have plenty to work on after this -- starting with ball security. They lead the nation with averages of 21 free throws made and 30 of them attempted, but got to the line only 14 times in this one, making nine. Staley says all of her teams problems can be corrected by simply tightening things up att the defensive end.dddddddddddd The only team to score more against her Gamecocks was Ohio State in a 92-80 loss in the opener on Nov. 14.I think if we can fix our defense, Staley said, the turnovers will help themselves.Duke: This was the kind of victory the Blue Devils needed as they try to climb back into the national rankings after some stumbles last season knocked them out of the polls. The Blue Devils had lost eight straight games against Top 25 opponents since they beat No. 12 Mississippi State two years ago in the NCAA Tournament.POLL IMPLICATIONSThis loss figures to send South Carolina dropping a few spots. As for Duke, it looked like the kind of victory that could earn the Blue Devils their first national ranking since midway through last season.KEY STATDuke outscored South Carolinas celebrated front line 42-32 in the paint. Said Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie: Thats a 10-point difference in our favor, and thats the game.WELCOME BACKSouth Carolinas Allisha Gray scored 11 points in her return to Cameron Indoor Stadium. Gray played for rival North Carolina for two seasons, scoring 24 points here in a win in 2014 and 20 in a loss the following year before transferring from the Tar Heels.UP NEXTSouth Carolina: The Gamecocks return home and have a week off before playing host to Minnesota on Dec. 11.Duke: The Blue Devils on Thursday night play host to an Elon team in a matchup that pits mother against daughter: Elon guard Maddie McCallie is the daughter of Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie.---Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. ' ' '