BOSTON -- The Minnesota Twins are heading home with a three-game winning streak. Doing it against the Boston Red Sox makes it more impressive. The Red Sox had the best record in the majors after they beat the Twins in the series opener. But after losing 5-3 in Thursday nights finale, they dropped out of first place in the AL East for the first time this season. "Its important that you kind of get that feeling about grinding things out (at) the end of a long road trip," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "These guys really stayed focused." Oswaldo Arcia hit a two-run homer and the Twins capitalized on a costly throwing error by Boston starter John Lackey to beat the Red Sox, who lost for the sixth time in seven games. Boston won the opening game of the series 6-5 in 11 innings on Monday night. Then Minnesota came back to finish the road trip at 5-5. "To lose that first one, we could have very easily won that one, too," Minnesota starter Kevin Correia said. "So to come back and win three is huge." The Twins were 4 1-2 games out of first place in the AL Central when they arrived in Boston. They left trailing by 2 1-2. The Red Sox started the series with a 1 1-2 game lead over New York and Baltimore. They ended it percentage points behind the Yankees and tied with the Orioles for second. "I dont think anybody is worried about the last seven games," Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "It is the big leagues and everybody is good." Lackey was pitching very well until his wild throw to second base on a potential inning-ending double play gave the Twins another chance in the sixth and they responded with four unearned runs, including two on Arcias homer, to take a 5-2 lead. "I have to make that one play and we win the game," Lackey said. "One play ruined it all." Correia (4-2) pitched 5 1-3 innings, his second shortest outing in seven starts this season. Then Brian Duensing got out of a sixth-inning jam and Gardenhire kept him in for the seventh. He finished with 1 2-3 hitless innings. "I appreciate the confidence" Gardenhire showed, Duensing said. "These are the type of situations you want to be in as a reliever." Jared Burton struck out the side in the eighth and Glen Perkins struck out two more in the ninth and got his eighth save in eight chances. Lackey (1-3) pitched well until his error, then came back to pitch a perfect seventh before Koji Uehara took over in the eighth. Lackey allowed six hits and one walk and struck out eight. The Red Sox finished with 11 strikeouts, the 21st time in 35 games theyve had at least 10. Boston threatened with one out in the eighth when Daniel Nava walked and Will Middlebrooks reached first when shortstop Eduardo Escobar bobbled his grounder. It was the Twins first error in 12 games. But Burton struck out Stephen Drew and Mike Carp. Trailing 2-1, the Twins went ahead to stay in the sixth. The inning began with a single by Joe Mauer. He took second on a one-out walk to Justin Morneau before Lackey flubbed a chance to get out of trouble. Trevor Plouffe grounded the ball back to the mound, but Lackey threw wildly past Pedroia into centre field. Mauer scored on the play, tying the game. "Youre looking for breaks in the game," Gardenhire said, "and that was a break for us." Ryan Doumits sacrifice fly gave Minnesota the lead before Arcia hit the next pitch into the right field seats for his third homer of the season. "The errant throw opened the door for them," Boston manager John Farrell said. "In the sixth inning (Lackey) was his own worst enemy. Other than that, I thought he pitched really well." The Red Sox had scored the first run of the game in the third on a double by Shane Victorino and an RBI single by Pedroia. They made it 2-0 in the fourth when Nava singled, took second on a groundout and scored on Drews single. The Twins scored a run in the fifth when Arcia tripled and scored on a double by Aaron Hicks. After falling behind 5-2, Boston scored in the sixth on a leadoff double by Mike Napoli and a run-scoring single by Nava. Middlebrooks then grounded into a forceout. Duensing replaced Correia and retired the next two batters. That was one of many wasted opportunities for Boston, which left exactly one runner on base in each of the first seven innings, two in the eighth and one in the ninth. NOTES: Twins SS Pedro Florimon was listed as day to day after leaving the game in the bottom of the seventh with a tight right hamstring. ... The Red Sox transferred closer Joel Hanrahan from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list. He is scheduled to see orthopedist James Andrews on Friday, an examination that could determine if he needs surgery after suffering a strained right forearm. ... Boston opens a three-game series at home with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night with Jon Lester (4-0) pitching for the Red Sox against Ramon Ortiz (0-0). ... Minnesota starts a nine-game homestand Friday with Mike Pelfrey (3-3) pitching for the Twins against Jason Hammel (5-1) of the Orioles. Vans Old Skool Shoes Sale . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Vans Old Skool Shoes Australia . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. http://www.wholesaleoldskoolaustralia.com/ . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Vans Old Skool Australia Sale . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Vans Old Skool Australia Online . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Luckily for Craig Williams he knows the lay of the land in Hong Kong.Reliant on racing manager Mark Guest to book his rides in Australia, Williams will be on his own when he goes to Hong Kong after Saturdays Flemington meeting.Williams rode successfully in Hong Kong from 2001 to 2005, booking his own rides which he needs to do again in his upcoming stint.Since learning of his contract, Williams has been spending more time doing homework on Hong Kong.Ive got five rides in Hong Kong on Sunday and Ive got to start working on Happy Valley for next Wednesday, Williams said.As soon as I get over there and start doing the replays on the horses Im riding and the opposition, hopefully it will all start falling into place.Its not my backyard and hasnt been for a long time but so far Ive had really good support.While in Hong Kong, Williams will leave his Australian rides to Guest who has been working with the jockey since 2005.Weve been working together for 10 or 11 years now and hes got a great understanding of what I can and cant do, what I like to do, what I dont like to do, Williams said.dddddddddddd.I usually only call him to get an understanding of what Im doing and where Im going.Hell ask me at certain times of the year where I want to go, but usually he tells me where Im going and usually he has a reason for it.With Williams riding in Hong Kong until December 27 he said Guest would have his rides sorted for his return at Moonee Valley on New Years Eve and Flemington the following day.He says Guest already has rides in store for next months Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast.After seven winners at the past three metropolitan meetings, early Flemington markets suggest Williams will leave for Hong Kong in good form.He rides favourites, Divine Mr Artie in the Plenary Group Handicap and Khaki in the Dorevitch Pathology Charity Plate as well as equal favourite Infra Dig in the Lanec Services Handicap. 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