By George Henry, The Associated Press
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Former Atlanta manager Bobby Cox returned Tuesday night to skipper the Braves' top prospects in a 4-3 rain-shortened exhibition loss to the major league club.
Cox wore a uniform for the first time since retiring in 2010 with the fourth-most victories (2,504) in major league baseball history.
Michael Bourn, Martin Prado and Brian McCann each drove in a run during the fifth inning to help the big-leaguers rally for the victory.
The Braves open the season at the New York Mets on Thursday.
The minor leaguers took a 3-1 lead in the fifth against Cristhian Martinez, who was arrested early Monday morning in Gwinnett County on charges of drunk driving. Martinez allowed two runs, two hits and one walk in one inning.
Atlanta responded with three runs in the bottom half.
Earlier in the day, veteran Braves third baseman Chipper Jones reported no problems with his surgically repaired left knee after taking batting practice.
Jones, who is on the 15-day disabled list following arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus, estimated he took "50 to 60" swings before the Braves played their minor league All-Stars in an exhibition at Triple-A Gwinnett.
"I couldn't be happier," he said. "I was pleased with the way the ball came off the bat. I was staying inside the ball and hitting to all fields and had no pain. So that's the most important thing."
Jones took about 20 grounders to keep his fielding sharp, but the balls were hit right at him to keep him from trying to move laterally.
Jones, who turns 40 later this month, still hopes to return for Atlanta's home opener April 13 against Milwaukee. The 1999 NL MVP announced plans two weeks ago to retire at the end of the season. He was injured on March 22 at spring training.
"Hopefully I'll have some big strides in the next four or five days, but I'm going to have to prove to these guys that I can go out and swing, run the bases, play defense and go all out," Jones said. "When I can do that, I'll be in there."
He's hoping to avoid a minor league rehab appearance.
"I don't want to," Jones said, "but I realize that I may be forced to."
Also Tuesday, the Braves signed reliever Chad Durbin to a one-year contract. He went 2-2 with a 5.53 ERA in 56 appearances last year with Cleveland.
In 15 innings this spring with the Washington Nationals, the right-hander had a 2.35 ERA, struck out 15 and walked three, but opponents hit .333 against him.
From 2008 to '10 with Philadelphia, Durbin went 11-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 194 appearances.
To make room, the Braves reassigned left-hander Yohan Flande to Triple-A Gwinnett.