April 2009 Game Pictures

Comerica Park gets ready for Opening day
Comerica Park prepares for Tigers home opener in Detroit on April 8, 2009.
Daniel Mears / The Detroit News


Gail DeGennaro of the grounds crew works on putting the finishing touches on the grass near home plate.


Brenda Walton cleans the seats in preparation for the Tigers home opener on Friday.


The logos for Chrysler and Ford are placed along side General Motors
with a sign "The Detroit Tigers Support Our Automakers" in center field.


Grounds crew worker Ryan Silva puts on the finishing touches to the foul line in left field.

Tigers 5, Blue Jays 1
Toronto on Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
Nathan Denette / Associated Press


Detroit Tigers closing pitcher Fernando Rodney, right, celebrates with
Tigers catcher Gerald Laird, left, after the Tigers beat the Toronto
Blue Jays 5-1 in Toronto on Wednesday, April 8, 2009. It was the
Tigers' first regular-season win. Their home opener will be against the
Texas Rangers in Detroit on Friday.


Tigers starting pitcher Zach Miner throws a pitch against the Blue Jays during the first inning.


Detroit Tigers catcher Gerald Laird, front, tags out Toronto Blue Jays
right fielder Alex Rios, center, as home plate umpire Tony Randazzo,
left, watches during the first inning.


Tigers catcher Gerald Laird, right, tags out Toronto Blue Jays right
fielder Alex Rios, left, at home plate during the first inning.

Tigers trounce Rangers in home opener
Tigers home opener at Comerica Park on Friday, April 10, 2009.
The Tigers trounced the previously unbeaten Texas Rangers 15-2
John T. Greilick / The Detroit News


Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge shakes hands with manager Jim Leyland
after being introduced at the Tigers home opener at Comerica Park on
Friday, April 10, 2009.


Tigers starter Armando Galarraga throws the first pitch at Comerica Park in the 2009 season.


Tigers starter Armando Galarraga pitches in the first inning. Galarraga
struck out eight batters and gave up just one run in seven complete
innings.


Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge makes a sliding catch on a fly ball
off the bat of the Rangers' Josh Hamilton in the first inning


The Tigers' Jeff Larrish is congratulated after scoring the first run
for the Tigers in their home opener against the Texas Rangers.


Carlos Guillen hits a sacrifice fly to right field to score the Tigers' second run in the third inning.



Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson hits a double with an RBI in the fourth inning. Granderson went 1-for-5.


The Tigers' Placido Polanco, right, congratulates Brandon Inge after
Inge scored on a double by Curtis Granderson in the fourth inning.


Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera hits a grand slam in the fourth inning.



Cabrera, left, center fielder Curtis Granderson and shortstop Adam Everett celebrate Cabrera's grand slam.


Armando Galarraga gets a standing ovation from the fans as he leaves the game at the end of the seventh inning.


Cabrera leans out of the path of the high and inside pitch from Texas
reliever Josh Rupe in the seventh inning. He then hit a 2-RBI double
off Rupe to complete a three-hit, six RBI game, which included a grand
slam.


Tigers pitcher Ryan Perry winds up for a pitch in the eighth inning. In
his 2/3 inning, Perry allowed no hits with two walks and one strike out.


Pitching coach Rick Knapp, left, talks with Bonine after the win.


Bonine celebrates with the rest of the Tigers after beating the Rangers, 15-2.


Curtis Granderson celebrates with Jeremy Bonderman after the Tigers decisive win.