Pittsburgh Pirates: Regular season results for May - MLB 2011 - Part 3
With two consecutive series’ wins, Pittsburgh Pirates were looking in great shape to strengthen their position in the wild card standings table. It was a superb achievement for Clint Hurdle and his men considering the poor start they had made to their regular
season campaign. However, despite having the winning momentum on their side, the Pirates were unable to deliver the goods in a three-match series with Milwaukee Brewers.
Losing all three games in the series, Clint Hurdle’s side fell short of their targets by a considerable distance. It was a disappointing series loss for the Pirates considering the kind of game play they had displayed in their previous two series. Both,
the pitching and batters department failed imperfectly and the Pirates suffered their first series sweep of the month.
Ryan Braun drove in three runs and Jonathan Lucroy homered as the Brewers secured a comfortable 5-2 win to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Pirates continued to play poor baseball in the following game as well and they let the opposition team establish
complete control over the contest.
Ryan Braun, Brandon Boggs and Prince Fielder homered and the Brewers secured a stunning win to take a decisive 2-0 lead in the series. Pirates’ manager, Clint Hurdle ran out to argue one of the calls by the umpire. “I said he missed the play,” Hurdle said.
“I felt it was a tie at the worst. He didn't see it that way.”
The fielder on the other hand, had a different view. “He was out,” Fielder said. “When they did it on super slow-mo, it was bang-bang, but he was out.”
Not learning from their mistakes, the Pirates were defeated the in third and final game of the series, which damaged their win-loss record to 18-23. Clint Hurdle was very disappointed with the way things went for his team during the season but he aimed to
lift their spirits and comeback stronger in their next series.
The Pirates were unable to deliver the goods in a two-match series against Washington Nationals. Despite putting up a decent fight, they lost the opening game to let the Nationals take 1-0 lead. Game two was washed out due to heavy rain and the Pirates suffered
their second straight series loss.
Re-grouping themselves and showing great determination, the Pirates raised their game to a higher level in a two-match series against Cincinnati Reds. In a display of some high quality baseball, the Pirates secured a thumping 5-0 win in the opening game.
James McDonald was flawless in second game as he pitched into the seventh innings and Neil Walker also pitched in to let the Pirates earn their first series win in nearly ten days.
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