NEW YORK -- Todd Jones brought his 13-year-old son Alex with him on the trip so that he could get to check out the current Yankee Stadium before it closes at season's end. The way the Tigers' season has gone so far, the elder Jones has had a little more time as a spectator than usual himself.

A year ago at this point, Jones had eight saves in 10 opportunities, pitched in 13 appearances and was one of the busiest members of a Tigers team that got off to a hot start. When Jones closed out Tuesday's 6-4 victory, it was just his fifth save in as many chances with 11 appearances.

He's had as many appearances in which he was simply getting in his work than he's actually had chances to close. Part of it was the Tigers' rough start to the season, but it's also in the way Detroit has won. Through 27 games including Tuesday, they had just three one-run games and five two-run decisions. By contrast, they've had five games decided by double digits.

Those types of situations can be a challenge for closers, who thrive on the intensity of games that can hinge on one swing. So far, though, Jones is making the best of it.

"It's way more taxing, physically, than it used to be," Jones said. "Now I have to grind through every pitch, every single time."

And as Jones admits, he doesn't have the same stuff to grind through that he once did. He works in part on deception and variety, and that takes on a different outlook in a game that isn't very close.

"When it's 10-1 with a 3-1 count, you're going to get a fastball," Jones said. "And my fastball's hittable."

Considering Jones has converted every save opportunity that has come his way, it isn't too brutal of a grind. Three of his saves came over three consecutive appearances April 11-15. Tuesday's save brought the potential tying run to the plate after a leadoff walk, wild pitch and RBI single to Jason Giambi, but Jones recovered to retire Shelley Duncan, Morgan Ensberg and Robinson Cano, the latter on a strikeout.

After two-plus seasons for Jones in Detroit, manager Jim Leyland has a pretty good idea how often to use Jones to keep him fresh for when Leyland actually needs him. Jones worked just twice over the season's first nine days, but he has had only one stretch since of more than two days without pitching.

Until the close games and save chances start accumulating, Jones will have to pitch occasionally for the sake of getting work in between. If he doesn't get another opportunity in New York, he'll soak in the atmosphere of Yankee Stadium once last time. Considering he has four saves in 14 career appearances at the old ballpark, and only one in the regular season since 2000, he's had to get his work in here before.

"I don't know if I've ever really stunk it up here," Jones joked. "We would always get swept here [in past years]."