SEPTEMBER GAME PICTURES

Tigers 9, Angels 6
Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.


Robin Buckson / The Detroit News


From left, Steve, 28, and Karen Christian, 22, both of Big Rapids,
celebrate Steve's birthday at the game, though having to wait through a
rain delay at the beginning of the game with Antonio Kinaya, 10, of
Shelby Township, right, before the Detroit Tigers defeated the Los
Angeles Angels, 9-6, at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 3,
2008.



Tigers pitcher Zach Miner releases a pitch in the first inning. In his
six innings, Miner allowed eight hits with five earned runs and two
strike-outs.



Tigers pitcher Zach Miner, left, talks with catcher Brandon Inge after the top of the first inning.



Tigers pitcher Zach Miner, left, and other teammates high-five Curtis Granderson after he scores in the first inning.



Angels designated hitter Mark Teixeira heads for home on his solo home run in the fourth inning.


Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson, left, high-fives catcher
Brandon Inge after they score on a double by Placido Polanco in the
fifth inning.



Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera is intentionally walked in the fifth inning, for the second time of the game.


Tigers pitcher Clay Rapada releases a pitch in the seventh inning. In
his 1/3 inning, Rapada allowed two hits with one earned run and one
walk.


This fly ball drops between Tigers, from left, Matt Joyce, Ramon
Santiago and Curtis Granderson off the bat of the Angels' Vladimir
Guerrero in the seventh inning.



Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera reacts as the home plate umpire
Chris Guccione calls the third strike on him in the seventh inning.
Cabrera went 0-for-1.


Tigers pitcher Kyle Farnsworth releases a pitch in the eighth inning.
In his one and 2/3 innings, Farnsworth allowed three hits with two
strike-outs.



Tigers third baseman Mike Hessman rounds the bases on his two-run home run in the eighth inning. Hessman went 1-for-4.


The Tigers dugout congratulates third baseman Mike Hessman on his two-run home run in the eighth inning.


Tigers third baseman Mike Hessman hustles in to catch a fly ball in
foul territory off the bat of the Angels' Kendry Morales for the second
out of the ninth inning.



Tigers pitcher Fernando Rodney reacts after the Angels' Mike Napoli strikes out swinging to end the game.



Tigers manager Jim Leyland greets pitcher Fernando Rodney after the win.

Tigers top Athletics 14-8
Sept. 8, 2008 in Detroit.
Duane Burleson / Associated Press


Detroit Tigers starter Zach Miner pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the first.



Detroit Tigers' Gary Sheffield hits a grand slam against the Oakland
Athletics in the second inning Monday, Sept. 8, 2008 in Detroit. The
Tigers went on to defeat Oakland 14-8


Gary Sheffield, left, celebrates with Miguel Cabrera after hitting a
grand slam against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning.


Oakland Athletics starter Gio Gonzalez reacts on the mound after giving
up a solo home run to Gary Sheffield in the first inning.


Oakland Athletics' Aaron Cunningham heads for the dugout after striking out against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning.



Detroit's Mike Hessman hits a solo home run off Oakland Athletics' Jeff Gray in the eighth inning.

Tigers 7, Rays 5
Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.


John T. Greilick / The Detroit News


The Tampa Bay Rays' Ben Zobrist turns a double play, avoiding a sliding
Marcus Thames, in the third inning. Zobrist hit two home runs,
including a three-run shot in the eighth, but the Tigers drove in seven
runs, five on solo homers, as Detroit spoiled the Rays bid to clinch
the AL East at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.


Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir struck out eight Tigers batters, but gave up
four runs, all on solo homers, in five complete innings. Kazmir took
the loss to drop to 12-8 on the season. The 7-5 win ended a six-game
losing streak for the Tigers.



Tigers starter Armando Galarraga pitched seven and two-thirds innings,
striking out five and giving up five runs on six hits, three of them
home runs. Galarraga earned his 13th win of the season.


Tigers second baseman Ryan Raburn throws out the Rays' Ben Zobrist in the third inning.



The Tigers' Mike Hessman high fives Gene Lamont after hitting a solo homer in the third inning.



The Tigers' Dusty Ryan high fives third base coach Gene Lamont after hitting a solo homer in the fourth inning.



Rays manager Joe Maddon and his team will have to wait to clinch the AL East division, as the Tigers defeat them 7-5.



The Rays' Ben Zobrist hit two home runs off Tigers starter Armando Galarraga, including a three-run shot in the eighth.



Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir struck out eight Tigers batters, but gave up four runs, all on solo homers in five complete innings.



Tigers base runner Brandon Inge steals second base, beating the throw to shortstop Jason Bartlett in the sixth inning.



Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera flips the ball to Armando Galarraga
to force out the Rays' Carlos Pena at first base in the seventh inning.



Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga gives up a solo homer to the Rays' Evan Longoria (foreground) in the seventh inning.



Rays batter Dioner Navarro hits into a double play to end the seventh inning.



The Tigers' Ramon Santiago smacks a single in the seventh inning off
Rays reliever Jason Hammel in the seventh inning. Santiago also hit two
solo home runs off Rays starter Scott Kazmir.


Tigers manager Jim Leyland congratulates Ramon Santiago after his third
run of the game in the seventh inning, driven in by teammate Marcus
Thames.


The Tigers' Curtis Granderson smacks a solo home run off Rays reliever
Chad Bradford in the seventh inning. It was the Tigers' fifth solo home
run of the game.


Tigers manager Jim Leyland, center, and hitting coach Lloyd McClendon
congratulate Curtis Granderson after he hit a solo homer, the fifth
solo homer by the Tigers in the game.


Tigers starter Armando Galarraga reacts after giving up a three-run
homer to the Rays' Ben Zobrist in the eighth inning. Zobrist also
homered off Galarraga in the first inning.


Rays pitcher Troy Percival winds up in the eighth inning.



Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist tags out sliding Tigers base runner Matt Joyce, attempting a stolen base in the eighth inning.



The Tigers' Mike Hessman, left, high fives Tigers closer Fernando
Rodney after the game. Hessman hit a solo home run and Rodney closed
out the game to help the Tigers.



Despite an extremely frustrating season, Tigers fans like this guy still stand up and applaud their effort.










Tigers players, left to right, Miguel Cabrera, Fernando Rodney, Magglio
Ordonez and Curtis Granderson enjoy a victory over playoff-bound Tampa
Bay.

Todd Jones Says Goodbye
David Guralnick / The Detroit News


Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland, left, shakes hands with closing
pitcher Todd Jones after a win over the New York Yankees at Comerica
Park, Aug. 26, 2007.


Jones pitches against the Seattle Mariners on April 23, 2006.




Jones and Marcus Thames celebrate a win.





Jones sits on the bench in the 11th inning after getting relieved by
teammate Kenny Rogers during a game against the Kansas City Royals in
Detroit on Oct. 1, 2006.



Then-Tigers catcher Pudge Rodriguez congratulates Jones after a win
against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sept. 12, 2007.


Jones reacts to a game-winning home run by Chicago's Jermaine Dye.




Jones throws the last pitch at the old Tiger Stadium, Sept. 27, 1999, to strike out the Kansas City Royals' Carlos Beltran.


Jones celebrates after striking out Beltran.


Tigers pitchers Doug Brocail, left, and Jones walk out on to the
practice fields on Feb. 18, 2000, during a light workout near Joker
Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.



Jones, winds up Saturday, Feb. 24, 2001, during fielding practice near Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.



Jones slams the bullpen door as he heads into the game in the ninth
inning on May 28, 2001, to close against the Cleveland Indians.


Tigers catcher Robert Fick speaks with Jones in the seventh inning
after Jones loaded up the bases July 8, 2001, at Comerica Park in
Detroit. Jones was the winning pitcher.


Jones yells out towards catcher Ivan Rodriguez after the final out to
end a game against the Twins on May 16, 2006, at Comerica Park in
Detroit.



Tigers pitching coach Chuck Hernandez speaks with Jones during a game
against the Angels on Sept. 2, 2006, at Comerica Park in Detroit.


Jones celebrates with the team after beating the Cincinnati Reds on May 21, 2006, at Comerica Park in Detroit.


Tigers manager Jim Leyland congratulates Jones after the win against
the Reds. Jones won his 155th Tigers career save to take first in
franchise history.


Jones is seen in the dugout during the eighth inning of a game against
the Indians on April 17, 2006, at Comerica Park in Detroit.


Jones awaits the arrival of Tigers manager Jim Leyland to pull him
after allowing a base-clearing triple by the Angels' Chone Figgins in
their game on Sept. 2, 2006, at Comerica Park in Detroit.


Jones is congratulated by Ivan Rodriguez after beating the Royals on
July 13, 2006, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Jones earned his 24th save.


Jones throws one pitch to end a game against the Mariners on Sept. 4, 2006, at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Tigers 6, Rays 4
Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, Sept. 26, 2008.

Robin Buckson / The Detroit News


Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander winds up in the first inning as
the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-4 at Comerica Park in
Detroit on Friday, Sept. 26, 2008.


Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco slides home in the first inning,
beating the tag by Rays catcher Dioner Navarro but spraining his left
ankle in the process. Polanco had to leave the game.



Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco writhes in pain after scoring a run.


Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield rounds the bases on his 498th
career home run in the first inning. Sheffield had two homers in the
game, putting him one shy of the 500 mark.



The Tigers' Jeff Larish hits a single in the second inning. Larish went 1-for-2.



Tigers shortstop Ramon Santiago slaps five to third base coach Gene Lamont on his two-run home run in the second inning.



The Tigers' Jeff Larish, right, celebrates with Ramon Santiago on Santiago's two-run home run in the second inning.



Tigers pitcher Bobby Seay releases a pitch in the seventh inning. In
his two innings of work, Seay allowed three hits with one earned run,
one walk and three strike-outs.



Tigers pitcher Gary Glover releases a pitch in the eighth inning. In
his 2/3 inning, Glover allowed three hits with one strike-out.



Tigers shortstop Ramon Santiago chases down this single off the bat of the Rays' Jason Bartlett in the eighth inning.



Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield high-fives third base coach
Gene Lamont on his 499th career home run in the eighth inning.



The Tigers dugout congratulate designated hitter Gary Sheffield on coming within one homer of the 500 milestone.



Tigers designated hitter takes off his helmet to greet the crowd chanting "Gary, Gary, Gary" after his 499th career home run.



Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman sits in the dugout with other pitchers late in the game.


Tigers second baseman Ryan Raburn misses an attempted catch on a single by the Rays' Dioner Navarro in the ninth inning.



Tigers pitcher Fernando Rodney high-fives pitching coach Chuck Hernandez after the win.