TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) _ Ray Durham figures his sprained ankle is going to hurt no matter what he does, so he may as well go all out.

The Chicago White Sox second baseman drove in two runs and went 3-for-4 Friday as the White Sox routed the Cubs' 12-3. Paul Konerko and Greg Norton hit two home runs each, and Frank Thomas drove in a run.

``It's the beginning of spring training for me. I've got some catching up to do. I made some good strides today,'' said Durham, who missed 11 games with a sprained right ankle.

Durham, who led the White Sox in runs scored (109) and stolen bases (34) last year, was walking to his car the first week of spring training when he jumped off a curb and landed on either a rock or in a hole.

He didn't think anything was wrong, getting up and walking to his car. Fifteen minutes later, though, his ankle was ``the size of a grapefruit,'' he said.

``That first week, it hurt to walk,'' he said. ``I was on crutches, in an air cast. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.''

Durham was cleared to play March 8, but he's been taking it slow so far. He tested the ankle in Wednesday's game against Oakland, going from first to third even though the center fielder was playing shallow.

Friday's game was another test. After singling in his first at-bat, Durham sent a ball in to left field. Henry Rodriguez grabbed the ball and Durham was safely at first, but he decided to go for second.

He made it safely for a two-RBI double.

``You never know when you're going to be in that situation again to test it,'' he said. ``The opportunity was there and I tried it.''

The ankle is still a little sore, Durham said, but nothing he can't handle. He figures he'll be back 100 percent within a week _ in plenty of time for opening day.

``I'll give it another couple of days to a week and it shouldn't be an issue,'' he said.

The game also was a test for Cal Eldred, who's trying to lock up the fifth spot in the White Sox rotation. Eldred has had trouble staying off the disabled list since having reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in 1995, but he's felt good so far this spring.

He gave up two runs and four hits in five innings against the Cubs. He also walked three.

``No. 1 right now on my list is to be healthy. No. 2 is make sure the arm feels good every day. That'll lead to No. 3, which allows me to go out and be competitive every fourth or fifth day,'' Eldred said. ``So far, so good.''

Notes: Cubs LHP Felix Heredia got knocked around again. Heredia, who came into the game with a whopping 21.60 ERA in 1 2-3 innings, gave up five runs _ three of them homers _ on four hits in one inning of work. ... The Cubs optioned pitcher Brian McNichol to Triple-A Iowa and returned non-roster invitees OF Corey Patterson and C Angelo Encarnacion to minor-league camp. ... In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, the White Sox wore green hats and put down green bases.