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If only the White Sox were in the N.L. Central. They took two out of three from the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend after earlier meat loafing the Pirates. We get to test that theory further starting Tuesday as the Good Guys invade Wrigley Field for the start of the City Series with their crosstown rivals. John Danks, Gavin Floyd, and a moved-up-a-game-in-the-rotation Jose Contreras are slated to pitch against the team whose name shall not be mentioned. Buckle your seat belts, as Ozzie has already started dissing the Friendly Confines (makes it sound a bit like a prison, doesn't' it?), so the other team's fans should be in fine form. Enough about what's coming up; let's savor the two games the Sox won.

On Saturday, Yes Way Jose pitched a masterly (yes, that's the right word) game. For the second outing in a row since returning from a stint in the minors, usual Update whipping boy Contreras lasted eight innings while giving up no runs. This time he allowed two hits and two walks -- still fantastic -- and pitched himself out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth before yielding to Scott Linebrink. Contreras was the beneficiary of a six-run rally in the second inning -- more than the Sox usually score in a game -- that Paul Konerko contributed to twice. Paulie led off the stanza with a single, scored on Jayson Nix's ground-rule double, and drove in two runs himself with a two-run single to left to close out the scoring in the inning. Even Gordon Beckham got into the act with a two-run bloop double. The final score was 7-1, which set up Sunday as the rubber game of the series with the Brewers.

And on Sunday, the Sox picked up a 5-4 win against their N.L. neighbors to the North -- no not that other team; the Brewers. Mark Buehrle wasn't himself on the mound or at the plate. As a pitcher, he was just okay, giving up three home runs that led to four runs in his six innings. But at the plate, Buehrle stroked his first home run in the Major Leagues. Jimmy Gobble came on to relieve Buehrle and demonstrated that he's what's called a LOOGY -- a Lefty One Out GuY -- by coming in throwing two pitches and retiring the batter. The relief triumvirate of Octoavio Dotel, Matt Thornton (4-1), and Bobby Jenks (14th save) held the Brewers, became pitcher of record when the Sox pushed across the game-winner in the ninth, and notched the save, respectively. The winning rally started with pinch-hitter Jim Thome (no DH in the N.L. parks, remember?) coaxing a walk after fouling off a drag bunt attempt. Ozzie sent in pitcher Clayton Richard to pinch run for Thome. Scott Podsednik advanced the runner with a single, and A.J. Pierzynski eventually plated Richard by stroking a single. Beckham contributed earlier with a two-run double, and is now batting a lofty -- compared to the .000 average he had been carrying -- .114 batting average.

We won't talk about Friday's game -- a series-opening loss to the Brew Crew -- except to mention Aaron Poreda's debut. Poreda struck out three batters in the six men he faced. Included among the whiffers was Brewer star and fellow Jewish ballplayer Ryan Braun. Poreda referred to it as "the battle of the Jews." We can't wait to see him face Ian Kinsler and Kevin Youklis down the road.

The Magic Number is approaching double digits, the Tiger's lead is down to 4.5 games., and we play the Scrubs after taking a day off. Go Sox!