Misery Loves Company: Two Guys Watch Baseball

Games 56 & 57 - Red Sox

Red Sox 11-8, Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3

Sweep, baby! What a difference a day makes. The Sox entered yesterday's games on a 5-game losing skid, trailing the Yankees by a game and leading the Blue Jays by a game. The Sox woke up this morning in first place in the division, .5 games ahead of the Yankees and 2.5 games ahead of Toronto.

There were tons of positives in the games against the Buccos. Byung Hyun Kim pitched a terrific game in his first Sox start, going 7 innings and allowing 1 earned run in the first game of the twinbill. Manny Ramirez helped the Bunger by going 4 for 4 with 4 RBI. Jason Varitek hit a bomb, as did Trot Nixon. In game two, Derek Lowe finally pitched well on the road, going 7 strong innings and picking up the win. Nixon went yard again, and Nomar matched a big-league record by recording a triple for the fourth straight game. Even Johnny Damon - who's been moved to the bottom of the order - pitched in, driving in 3 runs with a 3 for 4 outing. Knock wood, but if Kim and Lowe pitch like this, the Sox pitching problems get a whole let less worrisome.