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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. LeCharles Bentley Jersey . James Jones got his turn Sunday. 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Craig Robertson Jersey . -- Jake Paterson made 39 saves as the Saginaw Spirit halted the Guelph Storms seven-game win streak with a 6-3 victory on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League action.CHICAGO -- This one looked like it was slipping away from the Washington Wizards. Then, in a flash everything changed. Bradley Beal came on strong late in regulation to finish with 26 points, Nene scored six of his 17 points in overtime and the Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 101-99 Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. Game 3 is Friday at Washington. "Weve got to come out like were down 0-1 or 0-2," said Beal, who scored 11 in the fourth quarter. "Weve got to have that sense of urgency and just that drive and that motivation like we did early. Weve got to be able to maintain that lead. Weve got to continue to stay poised." The Wizards couldnt maintain a 17-point first-quarter lead and had to rally from 10 down in the fourth. Nene scored the first six points in overtime after being held in check by Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah in regulation, and the Wizards hung on after Kirk Hinrich failed to convert at the foul line in the closing seconds of overtime. Noah had just hit two free throws when Beal missed a jumper with 18 seconds left. Jimmy Butler got the rebound and Chicago called time. Hinrich, a 76 per cent free throw shooter this season, had a chance to tie it after getting fouled by Nene on a drive with 2.4 seconds left. But his first attempt hit the rim. He deliberately missed the second, and Trevor Ariza grabbed the rebound to seal the win for Washington. "I went up there thinking I was going to knock them down," Hinrich said. "Tonight, I just couldnt do it. However, I really felt that I shouldve made the layup." D.J. Augustin led Chicago with 25 points but cooled off late in the game with Ariza guarding him. Taj Gibson had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Noah added 20 points and 12 boards, but the Bulls find themselves in a huge hole after dropping two at home. They blew a 13-point lead in Game 1 and couldnt hang on after rallying in this one. Both times, they struggled in the fourth quarter, and coach Tom Thibodeau bristled when asked if he might switch up hhis late-game rotation.dddddddddddd "We look at everything," he said. "Unreal." John Wall had 16 points and seven assists for Washington. The Bulls appeared to be in good shape when they were leading 87-77 five minutes into the fourth. They were still leading, 91-85, when Beal shot the Wizards back into the game. He nailed a 3-pointer that made it 91-88 and added a floater to make it a one-point game. Then, with a chance to put Washington ahead, he hit 1 of 2 free throws with 52.9 seconds left to tie it at 91. Both teams had opportunities to win it in the closing seconds but couldnt convert. "I think we did a great job staying calm and composed," Wall said. "Early in the season, we would get rattled and guys would try to make plays one on one on their own. Tonight, we trusted in our offence like weve been doing." The Bulls were leading 87-77 after a driving layup by Noah and two free throws by Butler with 6:59 left regulation. But with Beal going off, the Wizards made a run. "I cant take a lot of credit for the fourth quarter," said Beal, who scored 11 in the fourth after quiet second and third quarters. "I think we got a lot of offensive rebounds and kickouts, and John hit me on a couple. I was fortunate to be able to knock down some, and I just stayed with it. NOTES: Only three teams have dropped Games 1 and 2 at home and won a series: the 1968-69 Lakers, 1993-94 Rockets and the 2004-05 Dallas Mavericks. ... Dikembe Mutombo presented the Defensive Player of the Year award to Noah, who hoisted the trophy above his head to loud cheers before the game. ... Thibodeau praises San Antonios Gregg Popovich and Phoenixs Jeff Hornacek after they took the top two spots in the Coach of the Year vote. As for the guy who finished third? "Hes terrible," he joked. Thibodeau, of course, took the third spot after guiding the Bulls to 48 wins. It might have been his best coaching job yet, with another knee injury curtailing Derrick Roses comeback and Luol Deng getting traded away. ' ' '