TORONTO -- It took a year, but the Yankees are finally seeing the player that they dreamed Aaron Hicks would become.
Hicks drove in a career-high six runs on Thursday night as part of a 4-for-5 performance in the Yankees' 12-2 victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Hicks doubled three times, also a career best, and scored two runs as his hitting streak stretched to five games.
"It's awesome. You always want to have big games," Hicks said. "I was able to do that, but I wouldn't be able to do that without guys getting on base and getting in scoring position."
Hicks became the first Yankee to collect six or more RBIs in a game without a home run since Joe Girardi, who had seven RBIs on Aug. 23, 1999, at Texas. Girardi said Hicks' first-inning, three-run double was one of the biggest hits of the night, as Hicks pounced on a Marco Estrada changeup and blasted it over Jose Bautista's head in right field.

"He's played really well all year for us, wherever I've put him -- center, left, right -- he's done the job," Girardi said. "It's probably one of the bigger nights that he's had in his career. It's a great way to start four days here."
Hicks vowed to produce different results after he struggled to adjust to a part-time role last season following a trade that sent backup catcher John Ryan Murphy to the Twins. Hicks has exceeded all reasonable expectations, batting .317/.437/.579 with eight homers and 30 RBIs in 41 games.
"He's been great," Carsten Sabathia said. "Just locking in, having good at-bats, walking a lot. He's just seeing good pitches. He's capable of this. This is what he is. He's a five-tool player, so it's fun to go out there and watch him do his thing."
Hicks said he has been working on shortening up his swing to drive the ball, changes that prompted Girardi to remark that Hicks has "been a completely different guy, the guy that we hoped we would get when we made the trade."
"It's been a lot of fun," Hicks said. "We've been winning ballgames and I've been able to put together a pretty good season so far. Last year was not the best year, but you can't think about the past. You can only think about the future."