Worth noting

• The Cardinals, who arrived at their Toronto hotel after 3 a.m. ET on Friday, did not schedule early infield practice before their series opener but were nevertheless deliberate in having players field plenty of ground balls and choppers off the artificial turf. Friday marked the first time this season that the club played a game on turf, and with a series in Tampa Bay to follow, the Cardinals will actually play five straight games on the surface.

Coaches also hit balls off the outfield wall so that the outfielders could get an opportunity to get a feel for how it played. Jhonny Peralta, Mark Ellis and Peter Bourjos -- all of whom played several years in the American League -- served as resources in the Cardinals' preparations for playing on the unfamiliar surface.

• Catcher Yadier Molina slid into the designated hitter's spot on Friday to give him at least a partial breather from working behind the plate. That gave Tony Cruz the opportunity catch one of Lance Lynn's starts for the sixth time this season.

• The Cardinals recently named outfielder Randal Grichuk and right-hander Chris Perry as the organization's Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month for May. Grichuk, who has since been called up to the Majors, hit .321 with six doubles, seven homers and 15 RBIs for Triple-A Memphis in May. Perry, a 17th-round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, struck out 40 and posted a 0.46 ERA in 10 relief appearances for Class A Peoria.