SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants right-hander Matt Cain has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.Thursdays move comes a day after Cain allowed six runs over 4? innings in a 6-5 loss to Pittsburgh.Cain has struggled most of the season at the back end of San Franciscos rotation. He is 4-8 with a 5.81 ERA in 17 starts.A three-time All-Star, Cain already has missed 43 games this season during two previous stints on the DL because of a strained right hamstring.Manager Bruce Bochy said the Giants will skip Cains spot in the rotation rather than make a roster move or use someone out of the bullpen.Reliever Cory Gearrin was activated from the DL to take Cains spot on the roster. The right-hander has a 3.89 ERA in 41 games for the Giants this year. Mens Ua Scorpio . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Mens Ua Speedform Apollo Twist . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. http://www.hfpcm.com/ . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Under Armour Clearance Sale . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Speedform Apollo Vent Blue . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. There will be a very familiar face in the visitors locker room at Virginia Tech on Saturday.Scot Loeffler, the Hokies offensive coordinator for the last three years of Frank Beamers tenure at Virginia Tech, is now holding the same position with Boston College. The Hokies hope to ruin his return to Blacksburg on Saturday.Its the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for Virginia Tech (1-1), and the Hokies expect to see some familiar looks from the BC (1-1, 0-1) offense.I think well see a lot of familiar things. I think he might try to change it up a little bit, but I think as far as using the same personnel for trying to get in different formations but stay with the same personnel, I think hes still going to do that type of stuff, Hokies linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka said this week.The Eagles also have the nations No. 3 defense, allowing just 180 yards per game. BC has the No. 6 rushing defense, allowing just 48 yards per game despite having played run-oriented Georgia Tech in the teams ACC opener.Under first-year coach Justin Fuente, the Hokies have had no trouble moving the ball -- they average 429 yards per game -- but they have had difficulty holding onto it with nine lost fumbles in their two first games.Still, Eagles coach Steve Addazio knows the Hokies are working on that, too.Theyve got a host of great skill players starting with their quarterback Jerod Evans, Addazio said this week. Travon McMillian, I really like the way he runs with the football. Sam Rogers I think is just an overall great player. Isaiah Ford and Bucky Hodges and Cam Phillips, just a long list of skilled players.I know theyre a tempo team. I know they want to get to the line really fast. I saw them against Tennessee. They came out of the blocks really, reaally fast and (Im) really impressed with them as a football team.dddddddddddd Theyre well-coached on both sides of the ball and special teams, so this will be a great challenge for us.Boston College has lost nine straight ACC games.---Some other things to watch when Boston College visits Virginia Tech:BALL SECURITY: Virginia Tech leads the FBS nation in fumbles with nine, including three by quarterback Jerod Evans and another on an errant snap. They need to fix that to have any chance of success.FAMILIARITY: Loefflers offense was slow going initially at Virginia Tech and has been the same for the Eagles. Boston College ranks 106th in total offense through two games, which puts a lot of pressure on the defense.RUNNING GAME: BC allows just 48 rushing yards per game, a stunning statistic considering they have already played Georgia Tech with its vaunted triple option. The Hokies, led by Travon McMillan (83 ypg), average 196 yards per game on the ground and could make a statement by having success against the Eagles.WHERES ISAIAH? The Hokies have tried to incorporate multiple receivers into their passing game, trying to keep everyone fresh and dynamic, but they havent figured out a way to minimize their best receiver, Isaiah Ford. Hes got 16 receptions in two games and is averaging 10.5 yard per reception. Thats a first down.HISTORY: The Eagles have typically been a tough matchup for Virginia Tech, winning two of the last three matchups and four of the previous 10 at Lane Stadium.---Online: The APs college football page: http://collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Hank in Twitter: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjr ' ' '