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). Giants Jerseys 2019 . Ive said it before, Ive worked with top pros and I could have made my own program. San Francisco Giants Store .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. https://www.cheapjerseysgiants.us/ . LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally in the ninth to end their road trip with a win. Wholesale Giants Jerseys . TSN 1290s Jordan Cieciwa, Big Marv and Toby are here to give their predictions on who will leave with the belt and who will take some of the other key bouts on the card. Johny Hendricks vs. Giants Jerseys 2020 . Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, Shawn Marion had 22 and the Mavericks beat undermanned Philadelphia 124-112 Friday night, handing the 76ers their 10th straight loss.The Vancouver Whitecaps defeated FC Dallas 2-0 on Saturday, temporarily extending their lead in the Western Conference playoff race to four points over the Portland Timbers. The Timbers would claw that lead back to just one point late Saturday night when they defeated the San Jose Earthquakes by a score of 2-1. THE FORMATIONS For the third game running, Whitecapsa€? head coach Carl Robinson named an unchanged lineup. The 4-2-3-1 formation has served Vancouver well over the last three games, where the club has picked up six out of nine available points. FC Dallas made one change to the team that beat the Seattle Sounders 3-1 last week, with Ryan Hollingshead replacing Jair Benitez in midfield, and they lined up in a 4-4-2 formation. THE GAME The Whitecaps started the game brightly, carrying on from where they left off the previous week in their 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake. Their high pressure in midfield paid off early in the first half, as Sebastian Fernandez scored in the 14th and 18th minutes to put Vancouver in control of the match. Fernandeza€?s first goal was an unlikely one, as the diminutive Uruguayan out-jumped Je-Vaughn Watson to head home Mauro Rosalesa€? cross. Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez got a hand on the header, but couldna€?t keep it from nestling in the top corner of his goal. Vancouvera€?s second goal highlighted their tenacity in midfield and their quickness in transition. Pedro Morales a€“ usually renowned for his pinpoint passing and control of the ball, rather than for his tough tackling a€“ harassed Moises Hernandez into a turnover, with Rosales picking up the lose ball and then driving at Matt Hedges and Zach Lloyd. Rosales stalled his run long enough to allow Fernandez to jump into the attack, and after Rosales slid the ball into Fernandeza€?s path, the winger took one touch to set himself before poking the ball beyond his namesake in the Dallas goal. It was all the Whitecaps would need to secure a precious three points in the Western Conference playoff race. FC Dallas offered very little buildup play through central midfield on Saturday, where neither Michel nor Victor Ulloa did much to support Blas Perez and David Texeira offensively. If their buildup play didna€?t come down the flanks through Andres Escobar, Perez and Texeira often had to drop into midfield themselves to get the ball. This made the defensive side of the game relatively straightforward for Whitecapsa€? defenders Andy Oa€?Brien and Kenndall Waston.dddddddddddd. The absence of both Fabian Castillo and Mauro Diaz for Dallas was a mitigating factor for the visitors; both players are very influential for Dallas, although Diaz has played sparingly this season due to injury. This turned out to be a blessing for the Whitecaps, who really only had to contain Perez and Texeira to ensure David Ousted kept his 10th clean sheet of the season. THE GOOD There were some excellent performances from Vancouver. Ousted was solid in goal and dealt with everything that came his way with ease. The back four were strong in the second half after they got a bit of a talking to at half time for being a little slack in the opening 45 minutes. The goal in every game for a defender is to keep a clean sheet, and in this respect the Whitecaps back four plus Ousted certainly delivered. In midfield, Matias Laba was excellent, while beside him Russell Teibert had a quietly effective game. Neither player had as much to do as they did against RSL the previous week, but they nonetheless were tireless in their defensive work in front of the back four. The attacking midfield trio of Rosales, Morales and Sebastian Fernandez were a thorn in Dallasa€? side all game. Their movement and interplay was delightful at times, and all three linked well with striker Erik Hurtado. His performance was arguably his best of the season, and while he didna€?t score, he held the ball up really well and constantly threatened the Dallas back four with his pace. THE BAD Fernandez picked up a yellow card late in the game, meaning that he will be suspended for Fridaya€?s crucial game in Seattle against the Sounders. Suspensions could prove to be a big factor for Vancouver over the last three games of the regular season, as Morales, Teibert and left back Jordan Harvey will all be suspended if they pick up another yellow card. THE STAR MAN Fernandez deserves praise for his two-goal performance, as do the others mentioned above. But on reflection, the best player on the pitch was 33-year old Rosales. The Argentinian has achieved a great deal in his career, but he puts himself about like hea€?s a 19-year old trying to earn his first contract. His work rate was tireless, his distribution superb, and it was fitting that he picked up assists for both of Fernandeza€?s goals. Vancouvera€?s next game is in Seattle to take on the league-leading Sounders on Friday, Oct. 10 (10pm et/7pm pt on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5). ' ' '