ANGELS NOTEBOOK: GREENE BRACES FOR SPRING TEST.

Byline: Joe Haakenson

The Angels' Todd Greene will get his first start at catcher in a Cactus League game next week, a chance to test his surgically repaired right shoulder - again.

Greene hasn't caught in a regular-season game with the Angels since 1997, the shoulder injury preventing him from making a throw to second base. He tried to catch last season in a minor-league rehab assignment, but the pain persisted and the club decided to use him at DH, first base and in the outfield after he was called up in August.

Greene went through an extensive rehab program during the offseason and has been careful not to try to do too much this spring. The Angels are hoping the shoulder will be strong enough to allow him to catch a couple of times a week once the season starts.

``I'm being smart about it,'' said Greene, who has been used exclusively as a DH this spring. ``I'm definitely eager, but this is a marathon, not a sprint.''

And when the first baserunner attempts to steal on Greene next week?

``I'm going to throw him out . . . I'm going to try to, anyway,'' he said.

Greene will also have to deal with the long layoff from catching.

``I'm going to be rusty, I'm sure,'' he said. ``I'm catching as many bullpens as I can, even though that's not the same as a game situation. But I'm getting my work in.''

Belcher feeling great: Starter Tim Belcher allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits in four innings Friday in the Angels' 10-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Tucson Electric Park. The Angels fell to 2-6.

Belcher, who made 62 pitches and plans to get up to 75 in his next start, said he's feeling great physically and is getting his work in, ``except for putting guys away with two strikes. Every run I've given up was driven in after I had the guy 1-2 or 0-2 at some point during the at-bat.''

With Chuck Finley recovering from a muscle strain in his upper back/neck, Belcher is one candidate to be the opening-day starter if Finley can't go. Belcher has started on opening day two times in his career, but both were in an emergency.

``In L.A., Orel (Hershiser) had an emergency appendectomy one week before the season,'' Belcher said. ``And last year in Kansas City, Kevin Appier was hurt.''

Better to be lucky . . . : The Angels had only two hits Friday, and both should have been caught by White Sox center fielder Tyrone Pendergrass. Pendergrass lost Reggie Williams' fly ball in the sun in the sixth inning, the ball landing on the warning track and Williams reaching third with a triple. Mo Vaughn hit a fly ball to the same area in the seventh, only Pendergrass slipped and fell while retreating for the ball, Vaughn reaching second with a double.

White Sox starter Jim Parque (Crescenta Valley High) pitched four perfect innings.

ANGELS UPDATE

Friday's recap: Chicago White Sox beat Angels 10-1. Angels starter Tim Belcher gave up three runs (two earned) and four hits in four innings. The Angels got only two hits - a triple by Reggie Williams and a double by Mo Vaughn - one day after scoring 16 runs against the A's.

Today's game: Chicago Cubs at Angels, 12:05 p.m. at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Ken Hill vs. Kerry Wood.

Radio/TV: KLAC-AM (570).

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BOX: ANGELS UPDATE (see text)