LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) -With three weeks left to win the final spot in Detroit's rotation, Nate Robertson has little doubt about his chances.
The left-hander pitched three scoreless innings of relief Saturday, allowing one hit in the Tigers' 10-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
``It's my job to lose,' he said. ``I am not putting pressure on myself. I am fighting for a job. No pressure.'
Robertson and Dontrelle Willis are candidates for the final spot behind Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, Armando Galarraga and Jeremy Bonderman. Zach Miner and Rick Porcello also are in the mix.
There could be two openings because Bonderman has a sore shoulder, but he threw 30 pitches Saturday in a game against Tigers minor leaguers and reported no pain. Bonderman will start Thursday against Atlanta.
Willis didn't fare so well in his start against Toronto, allowing four runs in three innings while walking two.
Robertson entered in the fourth and immediately allowed a hit, then made an error on a ground ball to put two on with none out.
``I need to learn to pitch with men in scoring position, so I gave myself a chance,' Robertson said. ``Nobody hit the ball hard. There were runners on base but no one was hitting screaming line drives up the middle. I am satisfied.'
Robertson has had an up-and-down career with the Tigers. He won 13 games in 2006, then struggled to 9-13 in 2007 and 7-11 last year. He said he prefers to look at 2006 as a typical season.
``Last year was an aberration,' Robertson said. ``I just have to forget 2008 and think about 2006. That's all I need to do.'
Tigers manager Jim Leyland said the race for the fifth and possibly fourth spot if Bonderman isn't ready, is still wide open. Willis and Robertson have pitched on the same day all spring and Leyland said it is time to separate the two.
``Both of them need work,' Leyland said.
Leyland said he was impressed with the way Willis fought back after allowing three runs in the first inning.
``That was a great comeback by Dontrelle,' Leyland said. ``He never caved in and just went about his business.'
Toronto led 4-1 before Detroit scored two runs off Mike Maroth in the fifth. The ex-Tiger allowed seven hits - including Gerald Laird's homer - and walked three.
Maroth is trying to come back from shoulder surgery. Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston is hoping Maroth can claim a spot in Toronto's rotation, but the lefty might be running out of time.
``Mike struggled a bit,' Gaston said. ``It wasn't a good day for him. He struggled to get the ball over the plate and went deep into too many counts.'
Maroth was supposed to go three innings but was pulled in the sixth.
``He needs to get it done now because we need to start getting more innings for more guys,' Gaston said.
Mike Hessman homered for the Tigers in the seventh off Rick Bauer, who allowed four earned runs in 1 1-3 innings. Detroit finished with 14 hits.
Adam Lind tripled for the Blue Jays.
Notes: Porcello was expected to start Sunday in Viera against Washington in a major audition but was scratched after tearing skin on his index finger during fielding practice Saturday. Leyland said it was no cause for alarm and would likely set Porcello back only two days. Instead, Alfredo Figaro will get start. ... Leyland said if they don't win starting roles, Porcello and 2008 top draft pick Ryan Perry could work out of the bullpen, where the Tigers are thin. ... Detroit reliever Joel Zumaya is day-to-day with shoulder soreness. Leyland said he had no idea when Zumaya would throw again.
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