[PirateFan17]

The Pirates bad start continued into the month of May as the team went 11-18 to put their season record at 15-31 (.326). The Pirates did climb out of the basement and lead the Reds by a game, but are still 13 games back of the division leading Astros. The Pirates improved slightly both offensively and defensively improving to 13th in the league in terms of runs scored and runs against.

Months Best Pitchers
Evan Meek: 2-0, 1.08 ERA, 5 HD, 18 K, 6 BB in 18 games (16.2 innings)
Octavio Dotel: 0-1, 1.80 ERA, 5/6 SV/SO, 18 K, 4 BB in 12 games (15 innings)
Charlie Morton:: 1-1, 3.26 ERA, 19 K, 15 BB in 5 starts (30.1 innings)

Months Worst Pitchers

Jose Ascanio: 0-5, 5.51 ERA, 17 K, 18 BB in 6 starts (32.2 innnings)
Hayden Penn:: 1-1, 8.03 ERA, 1 HD 9 K, 9 BB in 13 games (12.1 innings) Daniel McCutchen: 0-0, 8.38 ERA, 7 K, 6 BB in 2 starts (9.2 innings)

Months Best Hitters

Andrew McCutchen: .324, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 21 R, 7 SB in 27 games
Jeff Clement: .311, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 10 R in 25 games
Garrett Jones: .241, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 13 R, 2 SB in 27 games

Months Worst Hitters

Rocco Baldelli: .176, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R in 23 games
Brendan Ryan: .198, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 2 SB in 28 games
Jason Jaramillo: .125, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R in 17 games

Injuries:

The Pirates were hit hard with injuries in May having four starters go on the DL for various injuries.

The first and probably most impactful injury of May was the injury to starting left fielder Lastings Milledge. Milledge separated his shoulder and will miss 6 weeks of action. Milledge has been one of the best hitters for the Pirates over the past two when he is healthy, but keeping him healthy is the hard part (3 stints on DL in past two years accumulating 11 weeks). Milledge was hitting .275 with 6 HR, 25 RBI, 25 R, and 5 SB before the injury. The Pirates called up young outfielder Fernando Martinez to replace Milledge. Martinez hit .319 with 4 HR, 10 RBI, 15 R in 31 games with the Indians.

The next injured starter was starting pitcher Jake Westbrook. Westbrook sprained his elbow and will miss two weeks. Westbrook was having an off year prior to the injury going just 2-5 with a 7.78 ERA, 10 K, and 23 BB in 8 starts (37 innings). The Pirates called up Daniel McCutchen to replace Westbrook. McCutchen was 3-1, with a 3.79 ERA, 53 K, 17 BB in 13 starts (71.1 innings) with AAA Indianapolis.

Starting second baseman Freddy Sanchez was the third Pirate to go down in May. Sanchez sprained his ankle and will miss 4 weeks of the 2011 season. In 36 games with the Pirates Sanchez hit .315 with 1 HR, 16 RBI and 10 R. Sanchez was replacing injured Argenis Reyes at second. The Pirates called up Argeis Diaz from AAA Indianapolis (.257, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 14 R, 6 SB), but Willie Bloomquist will take over the second baseman duties while Sanchez is injured.

The final player to require a stay on the DL in May was right fielder Jose Tabata. Tabata was having a great year prior to the injury as he platooned with Rocco Baldelli. Tabata in 36 games hit .370 with 2 HR, 14 RBI, 13 R and 2 SB. The team called up Brandon Moss (.285, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 21 R) from AAA Indianapolis to be a backup outfielder as Rocco Baldelli will play everyday in right until Tabata returns.

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