Cards split split-squad tilts

JUPITER, Fla. -- One good pitching outing was good news for the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday; one was not.

Woody Williams was pretty efficient in his first start of the spring for the Cardinals, while another group of Cardinals was the victim of Roger Clemens best outing of the spring for the Houston Astros.

Williams, recovering from tendinitis in his pitching shoulder, pitched a perfect inning Thursday in the Cardinals' 7-1 split-squad win against the Montreal Expos.

"It was a good day for Woody," Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "It was a good day getting him back on the mound. He felt good before, he felt good during and he felt good afterwards."

Williams threw only 11 pitches.

"I'm just glad to be back out there,"Williams said, "and, hopefully, I can build on this and be ready when it is my turn to pitch."

Kevin Witt hit a first-inning grand slam for the Cardinals and went 2-for-4 with five RBI.

The Cardinals squad in Kissimmee, Fla., faced a better pitching performance from Clemens in a 3-1 Astros win.

Clemens, preparing for his first season with his hometown team, allowed four hits in four shutout innings. He struck out three and walked none in his third outing this spring.

"I'm still a ways away," Clemens said. "Just because the results are a little better and they didn't score runs, that doesn't mean a whole lot down here."

Lance Berkman hit his first homer of the spring, a two-run drive off Danny Haren.

Scott Rolen went 3-for-3 with two doubles off Clemens and a bunt single.