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Danks eyes fast start for White Sox against Royals

Apr 9, 2009 - 4:55 AM By Matt Beardmore Stats Writer

Kansas City (1-1) at Chi White Sox (1-1), 2:05 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (AP) -- Although the Chicago White Sox made a quick exit from the 2008 postseason, John Danks had a successful and memorable second season in the major leagues.

Making his 2009 debut on Thursday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, the left-hander faces the Kansas City Royals (1-1) at home for the first time since a very forgettable performance.

Although just 23 years old, Danks (12-9 in 2008), who was fifth in the AL last season with a 3.32 ERA, has already proven he's a big-game pitcher. A win over Minnesota in last season's one-game divisional playoff to decide the Central title and a victory against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the division series proved that.

Danks is 1-0 with a 3.28 ERA in four career starts against the Royals, but in his last home start against Kansas City on July 20, the southpaw allowed six runs and nine hits in just four innings in an 8-7 loss. The Royals tagged him for four straight hits and four first-inning runs to begin the contest.

"Danks is a pretty tough pitcher," Kansas City shortstop Mike Aviles said after getting three hits in that win. "We got to him early and we never gave him a chance to settle in."

Aviles was 2-for-3 and scored both of the Royals' runs in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Chicago. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd struck out nine and allowed six hits in seven innings as Chicago was shut out at home by the Royals for the first time since a 9-0 loss on Aug. 3, 1995.

Danks knows that his success, as well as Floyd's, is critical in 2009 if the White Sox are going to repeat as AL Central champions.

"We now have to back it up," Danks told the team's official Web site during the exhibition season. "We pitched well last season and gave the team a chance to win. Now we have a chance to make a name for ourselves, to prove we are for real."

He gave up two hits in five innings in a 6-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday in his final outing of spring training.

Facing Chicago (1-1) in the series finale on Thursday is Kyle Davies (9-7, 4.06). The 25-year-old right-hander is 2-2 with a 5.60 ERA in five lifetime starts against the White Sox.

In his only start in Chicago, Davies allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings in a 9-2 loss on Aug. 14. On Thursday, though, he'll face a White Sox club that managed just three singles on Wednesday night.

"They're going to give a lot of people headaches," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of the Royals.

Jermaine Dye has had plenty of success lately against his former team. Dye, who played with Kansas City from 1997-2001, is batting .345 (19-for-55) in his last 15 games against the Royals. He is two homers shy of 300.

Paul Konerko has just one hit in six-at bats through the first two games, but is 5-for-10 with a home run and two RBIs in his career against Davies.

Wilson Betemit, Davies' teammates with Atlanta from 2005-06, has yet to see action in this series, but with two home runs and five RBIs in five lifetime at-bats against the Kansas City righty, he could make his 2009 debut.