Bruise a lucky break for catcher

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. —- Braves Nation could breath a collective sigh of relief Saturday after Brian McCann’s finger injury was diagnosed as a mere bruise.

The All-Star catcher was struck in the right ring finger by a foul tip off the bat of former teammate Mark Teixeira in the first inning of Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees.

“We caught a break there,” said Braves manager Bobby Cox, who meant they caught a break because the catcher did not have a break. “The doctor said he’s going to be fine.”

McCann said, “It’s just a bruise” and predicted he would miss no more than a couple of games. “Might even be [only one] day, I’m not sure. …

“I was just glad that it’s not serious, not broken or anything like that. Any time you get hit in the hand, when you get hit that hard, it’s the first thing that comes to your mind.”

When the ball caromed off his hand, McCann jumped from his crouch, reeled in pain and threw off his mitt so he could grab his right wrist with his left hand.

He was escorted off the field for medical attention, and it was announced that McCann would have X-rays. That was scrapped, however, after feeling came back in his hand and it was apparent nothing was broken.

“It went numb,” he said. “Once the feeling came back, I knew it was just a bruise.”

Jurrjens, Boscan not on same page

With the Yankees in town, Saturday wasn’t a good day for Braves starter Jair Jurrjens to work with an unfamiliar catcher.

They lit up Jurrjens for nine hits and six runs (three earned) in five innings, including homers by Teixeira and Robinson Cano.

It was the most hits and runs allowed by a Braves starter in Grapefruit League play, although Derek Lowe allowed more earned runs (five) in a game.

Only one run in the four-run second inning was earned after a fielding error by shortstop Yunel Escobar on Derek Jeter’s bases-loaded grounder with one out.

Jurrjens and journeyman catcher J.C. Boscan struggled to get in synch after Boscan replaced McCann. Jurrjens said he repeatedly shook off signs when the catcher called for a different pitch than what he had in mind.

“If you’re not on the same page, it’s a little difficult,” Jurrjens said.

But Jurrjens said the second inning was his own fault because of a high pitch count and walking pitcher Brett Tomko on four pitches to load the bases.

Uphill battle ends for pitcher Ridgway

The Braves released lefty Jeff Ridgway, whose sore elbow quashed his slim chance of competing for a bullpen job this spring. He had Sept. 20 surgery for bone chips in his left elbow, which became inflamed again early in camp.

“He came into spring with an uphill battle,” general manager Frank Wren said of Ridgway, who wasn’t able to throw for three weeks before he was released.

The Braves got him from Tampa Bay in a January 2008 trade for infielder Willy Aybar, who helped the Rays reach the World Series last season.

Ridgway spent most of the 2008 season at Class AAA Richmond, posting a 5.47 ERA in 52 2/3 innings.

ON AJC.COM

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