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Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Chi White Sox 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 8 2 LA Angels 0 0 3 0 0 1 2 6 x 12 12 1

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  W: Shields (1-0)   L: Dotel (0-1)   S: Rodriguez (1)

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Napoli helps Angels top White Sox in spring opener

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) Mike Napoli has been unable to throw this spring following offseason surgery on his right shoulder. His swing looks just fine, though.

Napoli's two-run double highlighted a three-run third inning and helped the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 12-3 in the exhibition opener for both teams Wednesday.

"All day long we had good at-bats," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "For the first game, that's a little bit odd, but we did and that's great."

The game drew 2,246 fans at Tempe Diablo Stadium, which has a capacity of 9,558.

Napoli split time with Jeff Mathis at catcher last season, when he had 20 homers in 227 at-bats. Napoli is expected to begin throwing drills later this week.

Chicago's A.J. Pierzynski drove in two runs with a single off starter Matt Palmer in the second. Palmer replaced scheduled starter Nick Adenhart, scratched Monday with flulike symptoms.

Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo each pitched a scoreless inning.

Chicago left-hander Clayton Richard worked two hitless innings with one walk in his spring debut as a starter. He was 2-5 with a 6.04 ERA in 13 appearances last season, including eight starts.

Richard is competing with Bartolo Colon, Lance Broadway, Jeff Marquez and Jose Contreras for what could be two open spots in the rotation behind Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Gavin Floyd.

"I know what Richard can bring to the table," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I don't know about Marquez. I'll have to watch him. If Colon and Contreras are with the White Sox on opening day, I'll take my chances."

Updated February 25, 2009