ByChris Girandola\/Special to MLB.com|05\/20\/12 3:00 PM ET <\/p>\n
ST. PETERSBURG -- David Ross was behind the plate on Sunday as the battery mate for Tim Hudson for good reason. <\/p>\n
For one, it allowed Brian McCann a chance to rest after the 28-year-old catcher played six consecutive days and 11 of the past 12 games. <\/p>\n
It also gave Hudson another chance to connect with Ross. The two combined to go 8-5 as a duo last season. <\/p>\n
\"They have a pretty good history, a really good history,\" manager Fredi Gonzalez said. <\/p>\n
Ross started Hudson's May 9 start in which the 36-year-old right-hander made his season debut and tossed just 73 pitches over seven innings in a 1-0 loss to the Cubs. <\/p>\n
McCann caught Hudson in his last start on May 15, when Hudson allowed two runs over seven innings in the Braves' 6-2 win over the Reds. <\/p>\n
With Jack Wilson making the start at shortstop, Gonzalez somewhat joked that Hudson also had a personal shortstop. <\/p>\n
\"I like it like this because you play [Tyler Pastornicky] and you develop him,\" Gonzalez said. \"You play Jack, you give Tyler a breather, keep Jack fresh. And you know you're going to get a lot of ground balls with Huddy. It's a good mix.\" <\/p>\n
ST. PETERSBURG -- Chipper Jones was out of the lineup once again on Sunday because of a bruise on his left calf. Manager Fredi Gonzalez did not sound too optimistic about Jones' chances for playing on Monday when the Braves begin a four-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Excerpt from: ByChris Girandola\/Special to MLB.com|05\/20\/12 3:00 PM ET ST. PETERSBURG -- David Ross was behind the plate on Sunday as the battery mate for Tim Hudson for good reason Continue reading
\nHudson has good chemistry with Ross, Wilson<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"