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Slumping Tigers aim to end four-game slide

May 16, 2008 - 1:56 PM Detroit (16-25) at Arizona (25-15) 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - The underachieving Detroit Tigers will try to snap their four-game losing streak when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game interleague series on Friday.

Picked by many experts to at least make it to the World Series, Detroit has been one of the biggest disappointments of any club this season.

The Tigers' dismal start continued on Thursday, dropping an 8-4 decision to the Kansas City Royals. Detroit is just 8-12 away from Comerica Park.

"We're not stringing good at-bats together," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "(Thursday's) game, we had some good at-bats and we threw some at-bats away. I'm very surprised and disappointed in the results so far, but I'm not disappointed in the effort."

Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman (2-4, 4.80 ERA) looks to get out of his personal two-game funk. Last time out, Bonderman allowed five runs and six hits in four innings - shortest outing this season - in a 5-2 loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday.

The righthander is also seeking his first career win against the Diamondbacks, who owns a 2-0 record over Bonderman in four career appearances.

Arizona counters with Dan Haren (4-2, 3.04), who gave up two runs and five hits in seven frames of a 3-1 setback to the Chicago Cubs last Friday. However, the righthander has performed well at home, posting a 4-1 mark at Chase Field.

Haren hasn't had much success when facing the Tigers, as he's just 1-4 with a 5.12 ERA through six career starts in the series - all as a member of the Oakland Athletics.