Worth noting

• On a day when he had to battle windy and cold conditions, Jaime Garcia allowed two earned runs, five hits and one walk against the Nationals in his first three-inning start of the spring. Garcia threw 39 of his 63 pitches for strikes. Both of his spring starts have come on the road.

"It's one of those things where this year, just to be here and be healthy, that's all I can ask for," Garcia said. "I don't really care about where I'm pitching next, as long as I'm going in the right direction. I'm at the point right now where I'm just going to compete and go out there with the positive mentality, just like I did when I came to camp. "

• Two of the Cardinals' recent high Draft picks -- James Ramsey (first round, 2012) and C.J. McElroy (third round, 2011) -- made their Grapefruit League debuts on Sunday. The Cardinals plucked both players out of early Minor League camp to fill out Sunday's roster.

Ramsey reached base in both of his plate appearances and scored one run. McElroy contributed a pair of RBI singles and also scored once.

"I think there's some excitement down there [in the Minors]," manager Mike Matheny said. "It's fun to get those guys in."

• Cedeno made his first spring start at third base, a position he hasn't played all that often. In eight Major League seasons, Cedeno has made only five starts at third. His work this spring, while focused at shortstop, will continue to include time at second and third base.