Neues » as they missed their last three

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). Jesus Aguilar Jersey . - Young and old. Emilio Pagan Rays Jersey . This week, they discuss the NCAAs revenue sharing, Don Zimmer, soccer language and Super Bowl 50. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/486i-yon...ersey-rays.html. The Brazilian heads into Saturday afternoons race coming off a close runner-up finish to Ryan Hunter-Reay in the Indianapolis 500. Andrew Kittredge Jersey . - All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked spry enough in pregame warmups Sunday for Green Bays divisional playoff game against Dallas. Tyler Glasnow Rays Jersey . The defeat leaves the 41-year-old Nestor to concentrate on the mixed-doubles event after winning 12 straight matches and winning Australian titles in Brisbane and Sydney with two different partners. "This was a little bit of a let down, but all credit to them," said Nestor.Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as Portland edged the Celtics 94-88 on Sunday. The Trail Blazers were behind at the half but got hot from the field later in the game and finally erased a Boston lead that persisted through the entire first half. Portland got great contributions from its bench, led by veterans Chris Kaman and Steve Blake. Kaman scored 16 points and grabbed eight boards in 17 minutes, and Blake chipped in 11 on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor. They both have had some very good games for us, said Portland head coach Terry Stotts. I think its typical of what theyve given us. Steve is very consistent defensively ... Chris is very consistent, hes been consistent all season as far as scoring and rebounding off the bench. Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green tied for the Celtics lead with 19 points apiece. Rajon Rondo ran the Boston offensive effectively with 13 points on nine shots and a game-high eight assists. Avery Bradley also scored 13 despite shooting just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. Damian Lillard scored 12 points and finished with a career-high nine rebounds. The Celtics got off to an early lead thanks to great work on the offensive glass. They led 7-0 just a minute and a half into the game thanks to two offensive rebounds and five points from Sullinger. Portland was unable to hit a shot from the field until the 7:16 mark of the quarter when Robin Lopez tipped in a missed layup to cut Bostons lead to 9-4. Portlands 6-0 run in the final two minutes of the quarter left them with a 23-21 deficit after one. Boston led by as much as 10 points in the first half. Commenting on his teams defense, Celtics coach Brad Stevens said, As we enter a five-day stretch before we play two more contenders, we haave something to build off of.dddddddddddd Despite six third quarter turnovers, Portland was able to erase Bostons 49-44 halftime lead four and a half minutes into a third period that saw both teams shoot a high percentage. The Trail Blazers grabbed their first lead on an Aldridge layup at 7:35. Aldridge scored Portlands first four points of the quarter and capped off the 15-8 run that gave them that lead. On his star forward, Portland coach Terry Stotts said, He fought through some adversity offensively because he had shots at the rim that werent falling, and I thought tonight was as much of a mental toughness game for him as a physical toughness game. The two teams traded the lead throughout the rest of the period with neither leading by more than three. Blakes jumper with 34 seconds left tied the game at 72 heading into the fourth. It looked like Portland was poised to take over the game in the fourth with a 10-0 run to start, highlighted by 3s from Wesley Matthews and Lillard. The Celtics fought and stayed in the game though. With less than five minutes to go, Aldridge scored his 20th point by sinking a pair of free throws to extend Portlands lead to 12, but Boston went on an 11-3 run to make it a 92-88 game with 1:30 to play. Bradley and Sullinger hit back-to-back 3s to cap that run. That would be the last shot the Celtics would make though, as they missed their last three shots from the field. Matthews dunk with 11 seconds left sealed the game. Game Notes Portland has won four straight games against Boston ... Boston is now riding a four-game home losing streak ... Jeff Greens 19 points put him over the 7,000 mark for his career ... Boston has not beaten a Western Conference team this season in six attempts. ' ' '