Fans gathered in stands down the right-field line and closely watched each warm-up pitch thrown by Richmond's starter in the bullpen.

Can't blame'em. Atlanta lefty Mike Hampton, on a major-league rehabilitation assignment last night at The Diamond, hadn't pitched in nearly three years, discounting spring training. Hampton experienced career-threatening elbow issues and some less-alarming strains (hamstring, oblique muscle, pectoral muscle).

"I swear I'm a pretty good guy. I kind of live the right way," said Hampton, 35. "I don't know what's going on. . . . I've had a lot of bumps in the road, and they've felt like mountains at times, but I feel like I'm on the down side of the mountain and I'll be ready to go soon."

Hampton, with a big-league record of 138-101 in 14 seasons, threw 48 pitches and three scoreless innings in Richmond's 8-6 win over Norfolk before 5,633.

Hampton made 12 starts in 2005 before undergoing ligament-replacement surgery and missing 2006. Complications from that injury -- a torn tendon -- cost him the 2007 season. Hampton was scheduled earlier this month to make his first major-league start since 2005. He strained his left pectoral muscle while warming up.

Hampton said that armpit area ached last night, but "for the most part, I got in some trouble and I was able to go with all my stuff, max-effort, and get out of it without anything major."

Hampton, in the final year of an eight-year, $121 million contract, predicts one more rehab start -- with Richmond or another Braves farm club -- before he is ready to pitch again for Atlanta.

"I've had a blessed career and blessed life and I've just got to continue to go out there and try to do what I love and, Good Lord willing, I'll be able to continue to do that for a while," Hampton said.

TRUMPING TIDES: Norfolk, Baltimore's Triple-A club, came back from a 5-1 deficit to lead 6-5 in the eighth inning, when the Tides batted around. Richmond shortstop Brent Lillibridge delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the inning and Brandon Jones brought home Lillibridge.

ROSTER ROTATION: Righty reliever Phil Stockman (1-0, 1.54 ERA) was promoted to Atlanta. In his last four Richmond outings, the 6-8 Australian did not allow a run (nine innings). Atlanta sent lefty Chuck James to Richmond.

The R-Braves dropped righty Brad Nelson to Double-A Mississippi and acquired righty Scott Williamson, who has pitched in 344 major-league games. Williamson, 32, was released by the San Francisco Giants in spring training.

TONIGHT: The Braves entertain Norfolk again, at 7. Richmond will start lefty Damian Moss (1-1, 3.55 ERA) against lefty Garrett Olson (1-1, 1.61 ERA), who made seven starts for Baltimore last season.

NORFOLK   RICHMOND           a   r   h   bi           a   r   h   bi   Redman cf   4   1   2   0       Andrsn cf   3   0   0   1   Cintron ss   5   1   1   0       Lillbrdge ss   5   1   3   3   Terrero lf   4   1   1   2       Jones lf   4   0   2   1   Salazar dh   4   1   2   1       Canizrs 1b   5   0   1   0   Moore 1b   3   1   0   0       Thrmn dh   5   1   2   0   Roberson rf   3   1   2   1       Sammns c   4   1   1   1   Costanzo 3b   4   0   2   1       Taylor rf   4   1   1   0   Heintz c   3   0   0   1       Holt 2b   2   2   0   0   McCoy 2b   4   0   0   0       Tmmns 3b   3   2   3   2   Totals   34   6   10   6       Totals   35   8   13   8
Norfolk ------------------------- 000 100 050 -- 6 10 1
Richmond ------------------------- 000 023 03x -- 8 13 1

E -- Redman (1), Hampton (1). DP -- Norfolk 1, Richmond 2. LOB -- Norfolk 6, Richmond 9. 2B -- Terrero (6), Sammons (4), Timmons (3). HR -- Salazar (2). SF -- Heintz. SB -- Costanzo (1), Roberson (4), Thorman (1), Timmons 2 (4), Holt (6), Taylor (5). CS -- Terrero (1).

Norfolk	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Penn	5.1	8	5	5	4	1
Castillo	.2	1	0	0	0	0
Novoa	1	0	0	0	0	0
Yan L 0-1	1	4	3	3	1	1
Richmond
Hampton	3	3	0	0	1	2
Bueno	4	5	4	4	2	2
Schreiber	.2	2	2	2	1	0
Shibilo W 1-0	1.1	0	0	0	0	3

WP -- Schreiber.

HBP -- by Castillo (Anderson)

Time -- 3:06. A -- 6,430 paid.