Abreu's hard work on defensive game already paying off

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Jose Abreu is out to prove he's more than just a standout hitter.

Abreu worked hard all spring to improve his defense, and it showed during the season-opening series against the Royals.

Abreu made a play Wednesday night that was particularly impressive.

In the fourth inning, Abreu barehanded a Mike Moustakas grounder and threw out Salvador Perez at home plate.

"I've been working all around on my game just to get better in all the aspects," Abreu said through a translator. "My defense is one of the aspects. I want to feel proud of my defense also like I feel with my offense."

New White Sox designated hitter Adam LaRoche won a Gold Glove at first base in 2012, and he will see plenty of games at first base. When Abreu is at first, he doesn't want to be a liability.

"Anytime he feels like he might not be on top of his game at something within his game, he works at it," manager Robin Ventura said. "He worked hard at his defense in spring training. That's just a little piece of it, but I do think he will be much improved over last year."

First loss:

Coming in with a lifetime 7-0 record against Kansas City, Sox starter John Danks took the loss Thursday after allowing 4 runs on 7 hits in 5⅔ innings.

The left-hander got out of trouble in the third and fifth innings but gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in the sixth, including Salvador Perez's 2-run homer.

"I felt like I had better stuff than 5⅔ innings, or whatever it was," Danks said. "I made a couple of mistakes, but I was able to also make pitches when I had to. I feel good going into my next one."

The quote:

Manager Robin Ventura after the White Sox were swept at Kauffman Stadium: "We've had a three-game losing streak before, so you push it aside at the beginning of the year and get that out of the way and get back into playing baseball."