Atlanta left-hander Mike Hampton threw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since he strained his left oblique during batting practice two weeks ago. Even before he strained the muscle in his left side, Hampton was being closely monitored while making his return from Tommy John surgery in 2006. Hampton had made his first light throws since the injury on Saturday, but Wednesday's bullpen work was much more intense. "He didn't just toss off the mound; he threw," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.