(Sports Network) - As good as the Detroit Tigers' two wins over the White Sox were to start the week, the two losses to end it were worse.

The Tigers took two steps forward in the first two contests of the four-game series with Chicago, but two big steps back in the two losses to the team that's been in their rear view mirror all season and won't go away.

Detroit's frustration with the White Sox seemed to peak with a 10-0 loss on Thursday afternoon. With the loss, the Tigers closed out the series without putting any more distance between themselves and the White Sox. Detroit's lead in the American League Central remains 5 1/2 games.

Things were looking up after Detroit outscored Chicago 11-1 in the first two games of the series, but not to Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

"They looked like they were having fun and we looked like we were tired," Leyland said.

On Thursday, Nate Robertson allowed all 10 Chicago runs on nine hits but pitched into the seventh inning. The night before, Zach Miner didn't make it out of the second inning and allowed six runs on four hits.

On Monday and Tuesday, it was quite the opposite. Justin Verlander held the White Sox to a run on five hits in seven impressive innings in the opener. The next day, Kenny Rogers pitched seven shutout innings and combined with Fernando Rodney on a 4-0 shutout.

The Tigers have won just five of 16 games against the White Sox this season and have three late September games to play against the defending world champions.

WHO'S HOT

Rodney has a 0.82 ERA and eight strikeouts in 11 innings during the month of August. Reliever Wilfredo Ledezma is 1-0 with 12 strikeouts and no runs allowed in 16 innings during August. Newcomer Sean Casey leads the team with 18 RBI this month.

WHO'S NOT

Curtis Granderson is hitting .121 with 19 strikeouts in August. Brandon Inge has five hits in his last 22 at-bats. Miner is 1-3 with a 6.57 ERA over his last five games.

ON DECK

Detroit visits Cleveland for a three-game series over the weekend. Jeremy Bonderman (11-5, 3.86) will try to get the Tigers back into the win column on Friday. He will be opposed by the Indians' Jeremy Sowers (5-3, 3.48). Verlander (15-6, 3.05) and Jake Westbrook (10-8, 4.18) get the call on Saturday, while Rogers (13-6, 4.14) and Cliff Lee (10-9, 4.61) close out the series on Sunday.