Worth noting

• Fernando Salas pitched a scoreless inning for Team Mexico in the club's opening game of the World Baseball Classic on Thursday. Salas inherited a one-run lead in the eighth and retired the side in order. He threw 16 pitches, eight for strikes. Mexico ended up losing to Team Italy when Sergio Romo blew a save opportunity an inning later.

• Allen Craig played three innings at first base on Friday. It was the first time Craig, whose five-year contract extension was announced just hours before the game, had played the field this spring. David Freese (sore tailbone) returned to the lineup as the designated hitter. It was the first game appearance for Freese since Monday.

• Matt Holliday remains stricken with a stomach virus, manager Mike Matheny said on Friday. Holliday was sent home from camp early on Thursday because of the issue.

• The Cardinals announced on Friday that Busch Stadium will again host a "Braggin' Rights" game between the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on April 2. Tickets for the baseball game are available at cardinals.com.