CHICAGO -- For all the deep breaths he took before the game, Chris Sale sure was a picture of calm once he stepped on the mound. Wholesale MLB Jerseys . More important for the White Sox, he was the definition of dominant. Sale outpitched James Shields, Tyler Flowers homered and the White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 1-0 in the season opener on Monday. The White Sox believe theyre in position to make a run at the AL Central title even though they made no splashy additions while the rest of the division loaded up. Theyre off to a good start after a late fade left them three games behind Detroit a year ago. A dominant performance by Sale and Flowers drive leading off the fifth against Shields were just enough to beat a team thats trying to make a big jump after finishing with a losing record 17 of the past 18 seasons. It also gave the White Sox a rare win over the Royals, who took 12 of 18 from them a year ago. Sale was a first-round draft pick in 2010 out of Florida Gulf Coast University, whose basketball team was the darlings of this years NCAA mens tournament. He said the toughest part of Mondays game was the wait beforehand. But he watched other games and took deep breaths, trying to clear his mind. "I tried not to hurt myself with my own thoughts," he said. Sale (1-0) showed the form that made him a 17-game winner and an All-Star in his first season as a starter. On a chilly day when the game-time temperature was 44, he allowed just seven hits and struck out seven while walking one. Sale got an assist in the seventh when second baseman Gordon Beckham dived to his right to snag Lorenzo Cains line drive with a runner on first, and he left to a standing ovation after Alcides Escobars single with two outs in the eighth. Nate Jones came in and, after Escobar stole second, threw a wild pitch while walking Billy Butler to put runners on first and third. Matt Thornton then struck out Mike Moustakas on three pitches to end the threat, and Addison Reed worked the ninth for the save. Sale, meanwhile, backed up the White Soxs decision to reward him with a new five-year deal this spring and the opening day start. "I think a lot of stuffs been thrown at him in spring training," manager Robin Ventura said. "He gets the contract, he gets the opening day. Theres a lot of expectations of him, but that all comes with it." He said Sale has "come along great." And Butler was impressed: "Hes been pitching pretty well the last year and had another really good game out there. Shields (0-1) was a tough-luck loser even though he gave the Royals exactly what they envisioned when they acquired him from Tampa Bay. The former All-Star lasted six innings, allowing just one run and eight hits while striking out six without a walk. Along with the addition of Ervin Santana from the Los Angeles Angels and the re-signing of Jeremy Guthrie after he dazzled in a short stint with Kansas City last season, the Royals believe they have the arms to challenge reigning division champion Detroit and make the playoffs for the first time since the 1985 championship season. "Thats exactly what I expect," manager Ned Yost said. "We get further into the year and hed go back out. Thats how good he was throwing the ball. Early, I limit them to 100 pitches. Guys like James and Santana and Guthrie take your 100 pitches and go to work." Chicago finally broke through when Flowers drove a high 2-2 changeup out to left-centre leading off the fifth. It was his first homer since he went deep against Kansas City last Sept. 8, and it was a promising sight for the organization. After all, one reason the White Sox let A.J. Pierzynski sign with Texas was they believed Flowers was ready to become the everyday catcher. "If every day could be like today, itll be fine," Flowers said. "I really dont think about it much. Hopefully, in a couple weeks or a couple months, Ill quit getting asked all these questions about A.J. and what size shoe I wear." Notes: White Sox LHP John Danks said he hasnt experienced any setbacks in his recovery from shoulder surgery. "Im still working up from surgery," he said. "Im not even seven months (removed from it). We put a put a pretty generous, quick timetable on it. I was disappointed. I truly thought I was going to be ready. We just ran out of time." Danks started last years opener, but made just nine starts -- all before mid-May -- and had surgery Aug. 6 to repair a capsule tear and remove debris in his rotator cuff and biceps. He plans to go back to Arizona for more workouts and will go on a rehab assignment before he returns. "As it sits right now, he feels good, which is a positive," general manager Rick Hahn said. ... Santana makes his Royals debut Wednesday, with Jake Peavy starting for Chicago. MLB Jerseys China . The UFC womens bantamweight champion is 8-0 in her professional mixed martial arts career, all by way of her trademark submission: a vicious armbar. Cheap MLB Jerseys . Garrett Richards and the Los Angeles Angels had a chance to end that streak until Mark Teixeira found his power stroke from the left side of the plate.MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Its been a frustrating season for Chad Kackert. Injuries have forced the speedy running back to miss nine of Torontos 16 games this year. After sitting out two weeks with a shoulder ailment, Kackert returns Thursday night when the Argonauts (10-6) face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-13) at Rogers Centre. Kackert has been plagued by knee and shoulder (twice) injuries as well as a concussion this season. But heeding some friendly advice has helped the 2012 Grey Cup MVP put his struggles into proper perspective. "Its been frustrating but its been a learning experience," Kackert said. "When youre not playing you have too much time to think and thankfully I got some good advice from some friends back home and have been able to find some peace and make the most out of the circumstance." Kackert drew solace from English writer Rudyard Kiplings poem "If," an inspirational sonnet about character and integrity and remaining true to ones self. In fact, two lines from Kiplings composition -- "If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same," -- are featured above the players entrance to Centre Court at Wimbledon. "It kind of talks about stuff you hear about every day but the way he words it is unique," Kackert said. "(The poem offers) perspective and that if I let anything get to my character, then Ive lost. "I kind of had to take that in and understand thats the one thing I do have that cant be taken away." Injuries have taken Kackerts big-play potential from Torontos offence for much of this season. The five-foot-eight, 206-pound Kackert has managed just 60 carries but is averaging a solid 6.7 yards per attempt. Kackert rushed for 112 yards and a TD on 10 carries in Torontos season-opening 39-34 win over Hamilton on June 28. He ran for a season-high 155 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries in a 34-22 victory over Edmonton on Sept 28. "Hes got that explosiveness," Argos quarterback Ricky Ray said of Kackert. "Weve seen it this year and last where he gets a crease and hes gone for a touchdown. "Thats a big game-changer. It changes momentum, it changes field position, it gets you going offensively. Just to have that big-play ability back in the lineup is going to be big for us." Argos head coach Scott Milanovich agrees. "Kack is fast . . . and when hes playing well hes very decisive, he hits the hole and then he goes," Milanovich said. "Thats what were looking for. "We dont want to see him out there dancing and being indecisive. We want him to get through that hole before they can close it and get north and south and run away from people." KKackerts returns at a good time for Toronto, which can clinch first in the East -- and home field for the division final -- with a win.dddddddddddd. An Argos victory would give them top spot for the first time since 2007 and just the third time since 1997. "I did," Milanovich said when asked if he told his players what was on the line Thursday night. "But theyre well aware of what the reward is." Toronto eliminated Winnipeg from playoff contention with last weekends 26-20 road victory. Kackert and the Argos know the importance of finishing strong. Toronto was 6-12 in 2011 but 3-1 over its final four regular-season games, momentum Kackert said the club carried into last season when it captured the 100th Grey Cup. "Weve been in their shoes before," Kackert said. "We just have to make sure were fighting for our goal more than theyre fighting for theirs. "At this point it might be easy to say we share a common goal where they might be fighting for their own jobs." Toronto has a CFL-best 7-2 road record but is just 3-4 at Rogers Centre. However, Milanovich said the Argos formula for success is a simple one, regardless of where they play. "The things we like to think weve built our foundation on are protecting the football, winning the field-position battle on special teams and winning the penalty battle," he said. "When weve done that, whether were at home or on the road weve won games. "Were just looking for some more consistency from all three phases." Winnipeg has a league-worst 1-7 road record but Milanovich isnt taking the Bombers for granted. "These guys are professional football players, theyre paid to do a job," he said. "I expect theyll play hard and play well, I dont know we can look at it any other way. "(When) youve got nothing to lose you can kind of come out and just let it all hang out and those kinds of teams can be very dangerous. Were going to have to be at our best, theres no doubt about it." NOTES -- Ray is a man with simple needs. He turned 34 on Wednesday and when asked what gifts he received, Ray said he got a set of headphones and ice cream cake . . . Argos slotback Andre Durie leads the CFL with 685 yards after catch. Thats the most ever since the league began compiling the stat in 2010 . . . Toronto safety Matt Black returns to the starting lineup Thursday night . . . Argos receiver Chad Owens has regained the lead in CFL all-purpose yards despite missing four games with a rib injury. Owens is attempting to win the combined yards crown for a record fourth straight year. Owens and Winnipegs Dave Raimey (1966-68) are the only players to have won it three consecutive years. ' ' '
