Pittsburgh Pirates: Regular season results for May - MLB 2011 - Part 2
With series win over San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates had improved their win-loss record to 15-16. Clint Hurdle and his men were looking to maintain their good form throughout the month of May 2011, to make it to the top of wild card standings.
However, the Pirates made a very ordinary start to their three-match series with Houston Astros. Unable to control their nerves under pressure, the Pirates let their opponents dictate terms in crucial moments of the game. Wandy Rodriguez allowed only two
runs in seven innings to secure his fourth consecutive win and the Astros battled past the Pirates to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Looking to get back into the series, the Pirates looked in supreme form in the following game and they displayed some high quality baseball to level the series at 1-1. Charlie Morton took a shutout into the eighth inning and Lyle Overbay smashed a wonderful
home run to lift the Pirates to a comfortable 6-1 win over the Astros.
“When my mechanics are right, I can throw all my pitches for strikes,” Morton said. “Not just the sinker, but the curveball and the changeup and everything.”
The home crowd was delighted with their team’s effort and they gave a standing ovation to Morton. “I sort of tipped my cap. I didn't know what to do,” Morton said. “I'm not used to getting that kind of ovation from such a big crowd.”
The Pirates continued their impressive form in the third and final game of the series as well. The Astros put up a valiant fight but they were outclassed in finer details of the game by a better team. Ryan Doumit hit a three run homer in the eight innings
to help the Pirates clinch another important series win, which also improved their win-loss record to 17-17.
“We know that this is a great thing for the city and we know that we are moving in the right direction,” said Pirates third baseman, Neil Walker. “I guess I understand it a little more than everybody else, because I was six years old in '92.”
The Pirates continued to ride the storm emphatically as they made a confident start to their next three match series with Los Angeles Dodgers. In addition to their strong attacking abilities, Clint Hurdle’s side showed a rock solid defence as well to restrict
their rivals to only one run in nine innings.
Jose Tabata took an unbelievable catch to double off Los Angeles’ Matt Kemp and the Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the series. However, they were unable to produce similar performances in the following two games and the Dodgers bounced back to secure a 2-1 series
win.
Continued in part 3
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