MINNEAPOLIS -- If anyone needed a game-winning hit in extra innings, it was Aaron Hicks. The once-prized Minnesota Twins prospect was hitting just .161 and was challenged by manager Ron Gardenhire and acting general manager Rob Antony the day before to take a more professional approach to the game. Hicks responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th and Phil Hughes struck out eight in six innings to help the Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 in the series finale on Thursday. Many think the only reason Hicks was not sent down already was because of the injuries that have decimated an already thin outfield group. Gardenhire and Antony both said they didnt feel Hicks was doing the necessary homework behind the scenes to be ready every day. "Maybe preparing is something I need to try to do more," Hicks said. "Try things to be able to make my game better and have an edge on the game." All-Star closer Glen Perkins blew his second save of the season, giving up a two-run single to Will Middlebrooks with the bases loaded that tied the game in the ninth. But Kurt Suzuki doubled down the left-field line and Hicks lined a 3-2 pitch to left field off of Andrew Miller (1-2) to win it. "Its such a big hit in a big situation," Hicks said. "It just comes down to how much heart you have in the game. Thats the kind of player I am. I like to play with passion and I dont like the way Ive been playing so far. But its something that sometimes youve got to go through in order to be able to make that next step into becoming a better player." Mike Carp had two hits and an RBI for the Red Sox, but David Ortiz was a quiet 1 for 4 with a single after going deep twice in each of the first two games of the series. Hughes gave up five hits and no walks and Chris Parmelee hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who took two of three from the defending champions. Suzuki and Eduardo Escobar each had three hits and Brian Duensing (1-1) picked up the win. Clay Buchholz gave up three runs on 10 hits and struck out six in six innings for the Red Sox. The Red Sox hitters had been doing well recently, with Ortizs personal home run derby contributing to 28 runs over their previous four games. But Hughes put those hot bats on ice on a day when the temperature was 46 degrees at first pitch. Hughes knows Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and the Red Sox lineup well from years of facing them while he was in the Yankees rotation. "He pitches more comfortable here, it seems," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "They threw a lot of strikes, didnt issue many bases on balls. Didnt have a whole lot going for the first eight." Hughes retired nine of the first 10 hitters he faced, won a 14-pitch battle with Xander Bogaerts to end the fifth inning and finished with more strikeouts against the Red Sox than he had in his previous 22 appearances against them. "Im going after them," Hughes said. "Thats been my game plan and has continued to be. Just attack with my fastball and get some flyouts, some strikeouts, swings and misses. I just tried to stay aggressive the entire time." Gardenhire said he hopes Hicks big hit will be the jumpstart his young centre fielder needs. "Hes working at it. Thats all weve asked him to do, study and work and hes doing that," Gardenhire said. "Thats a big hit for him. Nice to see him smile in a big situation like that." NOTES: Farrell gave OFs Grady Sizemore and Shane Victorino the day off. Farrell said the oft-injured Sizemore is doing fine and would play a lot this weekend while Victorino is resting a sore left knee. ... The Twins gave SS Danny Santana the day off to rest some sore legs, Gardenhire said. ... University of Minnesota football coach Jerry Kill threw out the first pitch shortly after announcing a $100,000 donation to start the Chasing Dreams foundation for epilepsy research. ... The Red Sox head home to open a series against Detroit on Friday. LHP Jon Lester (4-4, 2.75) will start for Boston against Max Scherzer (5-1, 2.04). ... The Twins start a series against Seattle on Friday. RHP Kyle Gibson (3-3, 4.74) will start against Mariners RHP Chris Young (3-0, 2.63). Johnny Damon Jersey Red Sox .com) - Even on the day his New Hampshire football team became the nations top-ranked team two weeks ago, coach Sean McDonnell conceded something about the team they replaced at No. Michael Chavis Jersey Red Sox . They all do actually — Joel-Hans Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 22, 2014There is no confirmation that the date is actually happening, but that didnt stop Embiid from getting dressed up. Fresh cut..... Getting ready for dinner http://t.co/NNIfKyZQzx — Joel-Hans Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 23, 2014 Almost 930.. https://www.discountjerseysonline.com/joe-kelly-jersey-red-sox-680 . - Their offence is underperforming. Discount Jerseys USA . Jose Bautista homered for the fifth straight game in the sixth inning, following a two-out solo homer by Melky Cabrera. Edwin Encarnacion led off the seventh with a homer to tie the game 3-3 and, with two out in the seventh, Munenori Kawasaki came through with the two-out single to score pinch-runner Steve Tolleson with what proved to be the winning run. Willson Contreras Jersey Cubs .7 million, one-year contract.The deal, announced Friday, includes a $50,000 performance bonus if the left-hander appears in 60 games.(SportsNetwork.com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Due to weather-related flight delays, the Raptors were forced to wait until Tuesday morning to leave Miami, making their matchup with the Eastern Conferences top team that much more formidable. Listen to all the action live on TSN Radio 1050 starting at 7pm et. The Raptors only two losses in their last nine came in San Antonio and in Miami, last seasons two combatants in the NBA Finals. Against the Heat on Sunday, Toronto fell 102-97. The Raps had a chance late, but didnt convert an easy layup, or a tough 3-pointer. Miami made its free throws and held for a home win. The loss snapped Torontos season-long five-game winning streak. DeMar DeRozan had 26 points and seven assists for the Raptors. Kyle Lowry went for 14 with nine helpers while Jonas Valanciunas and Amir Johnson totaled 17 points apiece. Patrick Patterson notched 11 off the bench. They turned up the pressure. They made us put it on the floor. They put us on the free-throw line but we didnt convert. Weve got to make free throws against a team like this, said Raptors coach Dwane Casey The Raptors went 112-for-21 from the foul line and only scored 13 points in the fourth quarter.dddddddddddd If not for the Raptors, the Pacers would be knee-deep in an eight-game winning streak. Instead, that run stands at just two games as the Pacers fell to the Raptors in Toronto, 95-82, on New Years Day.Since, the Pacers bested the New Orleans Pelicans at home, then knocked off the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Sunday, 82-78.The Pacers, whove gone nine straight without giving up 100 points, were led by Paul George and his 16 points and six assists. Roy Hibbert scored 15 points with six rebounds, while David West added 11 points and seven boards in the win.Lance Stephenson and Danny Granger scored 10 points apiece for Indiana, which has won seven of its last eight.This is a good win for our guys, said Pacers coach Frank Vogel. Games like that are never as easy as they should be when you have a bunch of guys out or a bunch of key guys out. They are dangerous games. We didnt play a great game, but good enough to get a win.Kyrie Irving and Jarrett Jack were out for the Cavs.The Pacers travel to Atlanta on Wednesday, then play their next four at home.Indiana has won six of its last nine in this series and is 8-2 in its last 10 at home versus Toronto. ' ' '