Job 1 for Owens: Run with this chance

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The White Sox have all but handed the starting job in center field to Jerry Owens.

Beginning today, Owens will try to get a much firmer grasp on the opportunity.

Hampered by a strained groin suffered in a Feb. 25 intrasquad game, Owens has not played for a week.

The 27-year-old leadoff hitter is scheduled to play in a "B'' game today and return to Cactus League action Tuesday against the Texas Rangers.

"It's an opportunity, again, for me to continue to show them that I can be the guy at the top and that's what I want,'' said Owens, batting .385 in four exhibition games. "The cohesiveness of the lineup, hopefully I can contribute to that every day again.''

Owens still has three weeks to show he's healthy before the regular season opens against the Cleveland Indians.

"It's frustrating, but at the same time I want to be healthy, and I've been working toward it,'' said Owens, who batted .267 and stole 32 bases in 93 games with the Sox last season. "I'm looking forward to getting back out there.''

Since he relies so much on speed, Owens grudgingly admitted the groin injury might be difficult to overcome.

"It's weird to say, but I'm either going to blow it out or it's going to be fine,'' Owens said. "One of two things is going to happen. I have to go test it and go from there.''

Eye on Quentin: Jerry Owens has had company in the trainer's room the past week.

Left fielder Carlos Quentin (sore left shoulder) also has been sidelined. He had surgery in October to repair his labrum and rotator cuff.

Like Owens, Quentin is expected to play in a "B'' game today.

"It feels good,'' Quentin said of his shoulder. "The one-hand drills have gone well. Every day I've progressed with them. I've been on a pretty rigorous strengthening program over the past five days.''

Eye on Richar: It has been a difficult camp for Danny Richar. After visa problems in his native Dominican Republic delayed his arrival by one week, Richar now is battling a sore back.

"I tried to take a couple of ground balls (Saturday) and I couldn't do it,'' he said. "Today, I took a couple and it still bothered me a lot. I'm working in the training room every day as much as I can to be ready.

"It's very frustrating for me, very, very frustrating. I got here late, and now I got hurt. It's something that can happen.''

Remember me? Padres second baseman Tadahito Iguchi didn't play against the White Sox on Sunday, but he still keeps tabs on his old team.

Iguchi was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies last July, and he signed with San Diego during the off-season.

"I spent 2½ years there,'' Iguchi said through a translator. "I know a bunch of the guys there and I had a home there. Chicago has been a real good town for me.''

He's no longer in Chicago, but Iguchi is curious to see who winds up as the Sox' starting second baseman.

"I feel like (Juan Uribe) will be at second base,'' Iguchi said. "I do kind of wonder what will happen.''

Padres 12, White Sox 3

White Sox' record: 6-8

On the mound: Starter Jose Contreras pitched 4 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits. Octavio Dotel took the loss after giving up 3 runs on 4 hits in 1 inning.

At the plate: Shortstop Pablo Ozuna and catcher Paul Phillips each were 2-for-3. Brad Eldred homered for the second straight game.

Next: Mark Buehrle starts against the Mariners today in Tucson.