BASEBALL notebook: Hancock remembered

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Randy Flores will miss playing catch with Josh Hancock.

“Every day, I was reminded of his heart,” Flores said Thursday at a public memorial in Tupelo, Miss., for his fellow reliever. “Josh loved being a baseball player.”

The Cardinals were among an estimated 500 mourners for Hancock, who died in an automobile accident early Sunday. Flores was the only teammate who spoke at the service, and he recalled Hancock’s playful nature.

The World Series champion Cardinals play their first home game since the wreck when they host Houston tonight.

St. Louis has lost five in a row and is in last place in the National League’s Central Division.

WBC invites extended

Defending champion Japan, Cuba and the United States were among the teams sent early invitations for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

The first invitations went to teams that reached the second round of the 2006 tournament: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United States and Venezuela.

Clearing the bases

San Diego Padres reserve infielder Russell Branyan was activated from the bereavement list. … Yankees rookie Phil Hughes (hamstring) became the seventh New York pitcher to go on the DL this season. … Pitcher Chan Ho Park was designated for assignment by the Mets, three days after he was hit hard in his season debut with New York. … Going on the disabled list are: San Francisco right-hander Russ Ortiz (elbow); Boston reliever Mike Timlin (shoulder); Pittsburgh pitcher John Wasdin (thumb); and Kansas City outfielder Reggie Sanders (torn left hamstring).