Mike Hampton reached the end of spring training healthy, pitching three good tune-up innings in Saturday's rain-shortened 5-4 win over Cleveland.

The Braves break camp with a 14-15 record and more important, have Hampton ready to get back into the rotation for the first time in more than two seasons. He'll get his first start Thursday vs. the Pirates.

"Feel good about where I'm at, feel good about my stuff," said Hampton, who pitched at Turner Field for the first time since Aug. 19, 2005. "Every step is important. It was good to go out there and accomplish what I needed to today. Back here was probably a little bit more special, being here in Atlanta, being on a big-league mound, big-league stadium. It was definitely a good step."

Hampton has tried not to get too far ahead of himself with every step of spring training, and it has worked. Outside of a minor setback with a slight groin injury, Hampton has been fine.

He finished spring training 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in five starts. He had 11 strikeouts and five walks in 16 2/3 innings. Saturday, he allowed one run on four hits, before the rain blew in to complicate things. Play was delayed for over an hour, and ultimately the game was called with two outs in the seventh, after Brent Lillibridge had singled in Brayan Pena for the go-ahead run.

"Really terrific spring," said manager Bobby Cox, who wasn't sure what to expect from Hampton after his two-year layoff with elbow problems. "I saw him throw in Arizona on a side session before he went to Mexico. I said 'Well, could be this good.' And he was. He got the rust off real quick. It can make all the difference in the world in a season to have a guy of his caliber going out there for you."

Gotay gets hit in first game

Ruben Gotay got his first action with the Braves on Saturday, coming in at second base in the second inning and going 1-for-3 with an infield hit to drive in the tying run in the seventh. He was having a good time again a few days after the Mets' decision to waive him left him teary-eyed.

"I didn't expect it," Gotay said Saturday, the day after the Braves claimed him off waivers. "I thought I did a pretty good job last year and that I would be with the team this year. But like they say, it's business. You've just got to suck it up and put it in the past and do my job now."

His job now is to team with Martin Prado to back up on the Braves' infield, bridging the gap until Omar Infante returns from a broken hand. Gotay hit .295 last year with the Mets, .288 as a pinch hitter. He can play second, third or shortstop and is not averse to giving first base a try, too.

Loss of foul territory an issue

What's a perk for the new SunTrust Club season-ticket holders right behind home plate will be a loss to Braves pitchers, who are giving up eight feet of foul territory from one on-deck circle to another.

"It's not going to help," Tom Glavine said. "Well, who knows? Maybe it evens out. Maybe it saves us a few outs offensively. It'll certainly cost us some outs defensively. That's the nature of the game. Teams are always looking to add new things. There are not a lot of ballparks left anymore that have a ton of foul territory. This place is still probably as good or better than most."

Cox said the Braves would get used to it. McCann could see the good in it.

"Balls that go by me, I don't have to go back as far," said McCann, which drew hoots from his teammates near by.

"He knows he'll get a cheeseburger every time he gets to the fence," Diaz said.

Roster watch

The Braves will open the season with three catchers — Brian McCann, Corky Miller and Pena — "for a little while yeah," Cox said. But the Braves are looking at Pena as more of a utility player.

Pena took groundballs at first and third base during spring training and can also play in left field. He'll join the group of those who might back up at first base, along with Matt Diaz, Prado and possibly Gotay.

Saturday was a nice day for Pena, who celebrated making the team by collecting the first hit off Jake Westbrook and dropping a single down the left-field line in the seventh. He hit .290 this spring.

John Smoltz is scheduled to throw in minor-league camp today in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., then rejoin the Braves when they return from their opener in Washington. He is to throw two more side sessions before he aims to come off the disabled list April 6 in time for the game vs. the Mets.