KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Hunter Pence most definitely found the right place.A day after saying he hadnt been sure until this year that the Royals played in Missouri rather than Kansas, Pence jolted Kauffman Stadium with a two-run, first-inning homer that quieted the crowd and sparked the San Francisco Giants to a 7-1 win in Tuesday nights World Series opener.It was really loud in my head, Pence said. Sometimes, my mind, when Im playing the game or our team is doing something good, its like an emptiness. I dont know whats going on around me.Pence had been 0 for 11 against James Shields before the homer. The right fielder who wears his socks extraordinarily high doubled and scored for a 4-0 lead in the fourth and also walked twice as the Giants won their seventh straight Series game dating to 2010.Youve got to work down, almost bouncing pitches at times, Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. But his strike zone is so big, its difficult.Pence started a meme on Aug. 1 when he tweeted a photo of himself in a New York coffee shop with the message, These pretzels are making me thirsty, a reference to a 1991 episode of the television sitcom Seinfeld.Fans started showing up at ballparks referencing Pences quirks with nonsensical signs.One of my favourites in Kansas City was, Hunter Pence Thinks Hes in Kansas, Pence explained on the eve of the opener. Once I read the sign, I said, I guess Im not in Kansas, so I have to be in Missouri. So I didnt know.The 31-year-old right fielder, acquired by the Giants from Philadelphia at the 2012 trade deadline, entertained at Mondays media day, looking a bit like a mid-1980s Bruce Springsteen with a bandanna around his hair. Hes been known to wear a LINCECOM KNOWS sign in honour of teammate Tim Lincecum, who dresses a couple of spots away in San Franciscos home clubhouse.A three-time All-Star, Pence is among the key emotional components in a clubhouse that could become the first NL team to win three championships in a five-year span since the 1942-46 St. Louis Cardinals. His leaping catch — tongue wagging, too — against the right-field wall of Jayson Werths sixth-inning drive helped the Giants in their clinching Game 4 win over Washington in the NL Division Series.He gathers his teammates in the clubhouse after wins for profanity-filled speeches or to offer congratulations for certain accomplishments, team and individual. Sometimes, manager Bruce Bochy doesnt need to say a word in team meetings, acknowledging Pence had the subject covered quite well.His energy, his enthusiasm, his passion for the game — hes tireless, Bochy said. Not a lot of guys can get themselves up every day the way he does. Hes a tireless worker, and Ive said this: Hes my lowest maintenance player Ive ever had. I just put his name in the lineup and leave him alone.Pence calls playing in San Francisco at always sold-out AT&T Park a magical atmosphere.Its just a group that I felt like I fit in, he said. There are a lot of accepting people of different personalities.Bumgarner said Pence holds most of the team meetings, not Bochy. He praised him profusely, saying its been an honour and a blessing to have him as a teammate.Sitting next to him, Pence leaned over to give a bromance hug and patted the pitcher on the head.I paid him to say that, he said before quickly adding: No, Im just kidding.That intense focus and always-on personality is part of Pence.Its kind of a blessing and a curse, he said. At home, I get people really angry with me, but on the field it works out good. Miami Marlins Shirts . Arsene Wenger reportedly wants to convert the player into an attacking force, much like he did with Robin Van Persie. Cheap Marlins Jerseys . The thunderous cheers quickly changed to an appreciative chant: "Ma-son! Ma-son! Ma-son! Headed to New York with new life, Mason sure earned this curtain call. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ . As TSN reported Thursday, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is under intense pressure from the federal government to focus drug testing on athletes who compete in international events representing Canada. Since funding for the tests has been frozen and the cost of testing can eclipse $1,000 per test, university athletes in a number of sports are being tested less often. Wholesale Marlins Jerseys . The Extreme Heat Policy was enacted at Melbourne Park just before 2 p.m. Thursday, suspending all matches on outer courts until the early evening and requiring the closure of the retractable roofs at Rod Laver and Hisense arenas before play could continue on the show courts. Fake Marlins Jerseys . They showered him with "MVP! MVP!" chants. In many ways, it seemed like hed never been gone.CLEVELAND -- With his team in trouble, DeMar DeRozan flashed his All-Star form at the finish. DeRozan scored 16 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, and the Toronto Raptors won for the sixth time in seven games with a 99-93 victory over the injury-riddled Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. "DeMar was huge down the stretch," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. "He made shots, he made plays, he made some free throws." DeRozan also made a key defensive play with the Raptors leading 94-91 and 32 seconds remaining. He stole a pass from Spencer Hawes by knocking Tyler Zeller to the floor and then made two free throws for a five-point lead. "I dont have too many of those left in me," DeRozan said of the hard hit. "I kind of anticipated that." Terrence Ross hit a 3-pointer with 3:02 remaining to put Toronto ahead 90-89. DeRozan dunked on a baseline drive and added two free throws to give the Raptors a 94-91 lead with 1:23 remaining. Kyrie Irving, who played 45 minutes and the entire second half because of Clevelands depleted roster, scored 25 points and had nine assists. Cleveland has lost three straight after winning six in a row and fell 5 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Irving had no problem with coach Mike Browns decision to leave him in the game. "I told Coach Im willing to do whatever it takes for us to get a win," Irving said after playing a career high in a 48-minute game. The Cavaliers again played without centre Anderson Varejao (sore back) and guards Dion Waiters (hyperextended left knee) and C.J. Miles (sprained left ankle). Ross scored 19 points while Greivis Vasquez added 15 for the Raptors, who beat the Cavaliers 98-91 in Toronto on Friday and have won three in a row. Toronto leads the Atlantic Division and is in third place in the Eastern Conference. Hawes, making his first start for Cleveland since being acquired from Philadelphia last week, scored 15 points. Cleveland took its last lead at 89-87 with 3:11 to play on Zellers two free throws, but Ross 3-pointer put Toronto ahead for good. Irving, the MVP of the All-Star game, was called for charging into Kyle Lowry in the final minute. The call was upheld after oofficials viewed a replay.dddddddddddd Irving was bumped on his way to the basket on Clevelands next possession but no call was made. "Its part of the game," he said of the officiating. "The refs are going to make their call. Thats their job. You move on to the next play and the next game. Im going to pick myself up and get ready for Oklahoma City (Wednesday night)." The Raptors went on a 15-0 run over a span of 6:46 in the first and second quarters to take a 14-point lead, but Casey was displeased his team let the Cavaliers get back in the game. "Were nowhere near where we can walk in a game and expect to win," he said. "All of our games are grind it out. Were going to see everyones best haymaker. They threw their best haymaker at us, they played desperate. Give credit to them." The early offensive struggles were a major reason Brown didnt take Irving out in the second half. "When I pulled him in the first half we had a little trouble scoring," Brown said. "I thought he was in a little bit of a groove. Hes our best player so I wanted to leave him on the floor and see if he could help the second unit generate some easy baskets." Toronto had a five-point possession in the second quarter that began when Vasquez hit a 3-pointer. Hawes was called for a foul when he and Tyler Hansbrough went to the floor. Hawes was then given a technical for arguing the call, and DeRozan and Hansbrough each made a free throw. Hansbrough completed another three-point play after DeRozans basket. Jarrett Jack was called for a foul after Hansbrough was knocked to the floor. Jack was also hit with a technical. Toronto built a 36-22 lead but Cleveland cut the margin to 47-41 at halftime and scored the first seven points of the third quarter to take a one-point lead. NOTES: Brown said it was unlikely that Varejao, Waiters and Miles would make the trip to Oklahoma City. Varejao has missed the last seven games while Waiters has been out four straight and Miles three in a row. Brown said Varejao and Waiters have begun some on-court work. ... Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas had two points in 17 minutes and played only seven minutes in the second half. ... Zeller started the first six games Varejao missed. ' ' '