Dodgers activate infielder Ellis from disabled list

ATLANTA -- The Dodgers activated second baseman Mark Ellis off the disabled list Sunday and optioned catcher Tim Federowicz to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Ellis returned quicker than expected from a right quad strained on April 26. He was cleared to return after a seven-inning rehab appearance Saturday night with Double-A Chattanooga.

Ellis, batting .342, was immediately put in the starting lineup for Sunday's finale against the Braves, hitting second and playing second base. He went 0-for-4 in the 5-2 loss, though he moved a runner over in the first, setting up Adrian Gonzalez's RBI single.

"I'm done rehabbing," Ellis said upon his return to the Dodgers' clubhouse. "I was fine at the plate yesterday."

Ellis went 0-for-3 with a walk, two strikeouts and a run scored Saturday night after going 0-for-1 in a Friday rehab start.

Manager Don Mattingly said he was surprised to hear that Ellis was ready, but he wasn't complaining.

"Everybody tells me he's good to go and OK to play," said Mattingly.

With Federowicz optioned, veteran Ramon Hernandez is again the backup to starting catcher A.J. Ellis.