If Glen Perkins worked a clean ninth inning Thursday, the main story after the game would have been a fifth consecutive victory in five starts for Phil Hughes. We would have talked more about Chris Parmelee being the hitting hero again with his second two-run homer of the game. And we would have wondered if Aaron Hicks, a day after being called out by Twins brass, was still mired in his funk after another hitless game.

Instead, the usually steady Perkins gave up the lead in the ninth. The game extended to the 10th, where Hicks wrote a great story of redemption — or at least "message received" — by plating the winning run.

friendly rival

U of M AD Norwood Teague told hawkcentral.com he doesn't like the "Who hates Iowa?" chant that some Gophers fans use.

plan b? Thwarted when Steve Kerr went to Golden State, the Knicks are reportedly interested in hiring a young coach, ESPN.com reports.