Major League Baseball

Blue Jays 1, Marlins 1

Published Apr. 4, 2009 11:09 p.m. ET

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Anibal Sanchez finished his first healthy spring training in three years on a strong note. Sanchez threw three scoreless innings as the Florida Marlins tied the Toronto Blue Jays 1-1 in their final Grapefruit League game. Florida's No. 4 starter allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one. Sanchez, who threw a no-hitter as a rookie in 2006, made his 2008 debut on July 31 after recovering from right shoulder surgery. He went 2-5 with a 5.57 ERA. "This is my first spring training that I finished healthy," said Sanchez, who was 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in eight spring games. "Now I want to start my season healthy and finish it healthy and help the team make the playoffs." Sanchez said he thinks he can pitch as well as he did in his rookie season when he went 10-3 with a 2.83 ERA. "I've got a little more experience now, but '06 is in the past," he said. Andrew Miller pitched a perfect fourth inning for the Marlins. The left-hander had been competing with Sanchez for the fourth spot before the team announced he would open the season in the bullpen and join the rotation on April 15. The Marlins will start the season with a four-man rotation because of two early off days. "I hope we don't have to use him," manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Miller. "That'll be a good sign for the starters. He gives us an option if we need along man." Left-hander Ricky Romero, who will be Toronto's No. 4 starter, allowed one run and four hits in five innings. He was 1-2 with a 3.91 ERA in five spring games. "It all comes down to hard work," Romero said. "I don't take anything for granted and try to stay as humble as possible when I'm out there." Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla, who was scratched from Friday's lineup because of tightness in his left calf, pinch hit Saturday and bounced into a double play. He hit .206 this spring with five homers and eight RBIs. "I told him to run easy down the line," Gonzalez said, adding Uggla will play Monday when the Marlins open the season against Washington. Florida right-hander Rick VandenHurk will begin the year on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation that may have stemmed from his participation in the World Baseball Classic. "Those are intense games to play in, that's for sure. I don't know if it's from that," said VandenHurk, who pitched 5 1-3 innings over two starts for the Netherlands. VandenHurk last pitched for the Marlins on March 28. He said his latest setback involves inflammation on the back of his elbow and is not related to the reconstructive elbow-ligament surgery he had in 2005. Florida utilityman Alfredo Amezaga is on the disabled list after spraining his left knee while playing for Mexico. Right-hander Matt Lindstrom missed the last part of the spring after leaving a WBC game with a strained right rotator cuff.