Pirates finish a miserable May a game over .500, rediscover an 'identity'

SAN FRANCISCO -- After a month where the Pirates entered with the best record in the National League and briefly dipped below .500 before the end, the month of May is at least ending on a positive note, as they won their first series in a month by taking the rubber match against the Giants at Oracle Park Wednesday, 9-4.

And despite all of those frustrations for a month, their last day of May was April-like. They came through in the clutch, picking up seven hits with runners in scoring position. Mitch Keller was not as sharp as he had been, but he was able to go six innings and get the win. The bullpen quietly handled business late.

It's not the way they envisioned it, but two months into the season, the Pirates have a winning record after splitting the road trip.

"I’m proud of our group," Derek Shelton said. "Pretty resilient. Started this road trip off swinging the bats well. Had a couple tough games in Seattle. Came in here and beat probably the team that’s playing the best in baseball two of three. Proud of this group to finish the month the way they did."

"I think we’ve learned that it’s a long season," Shelton added shortly after. "When you go through difficult stretches, they keep going, they keep grinding... We continue to play the game, and I think that’s really important. That’ll be helpful throughout the whole year."

Put the emphasis on those last three words: The whole year. May was destined to be perhaps the hardest month on the Pirates' schedule, with numerous run-ins with division leaders and clubs with winning records. 

"We struggled in May, but it’s a win if you ask me," Andrew McCutchen said. "Would you rather have those struggles in May, or would you rather have those struggles in September, when you’re trying to push for a playoff spot? It’s something we learn from. You learn, grow through. Two months in the books, I feel pretty good about where we are."

McCutchen and the veterans have been saying a lot behind closed doors these past few weeks. The message, according to Hayes, was "don't try to be someone that you're not."

"The thing we've been saying lately is 'single 'em to death, take your walks, take care of the ball on defense,' " Hayes said. "I think it's really huge for us. I feel like that's our identity."

The Pirates certainly did beat the Giants with balls in play, especially in clutch situations. Hayes delivered two big RBIs on a triple in the third inning to build a comfortable lead after McCutchen got the Pirates on the board with a double:

The Pirates entered Wednesday hitting .199 with runners in scoring position in the month of May. They had 36 hits in those situations all month. They got nearly 20% of that in one game.

"Instead of feeling like, 'I have to get this guy in,' I think just having the mindset of, 'the pitcher has to make three really good pitches for me to not get this guy in,' " Hayes said. "I feel like just changing the outlook of the game and not trying to put too much pressure on yourself, I feel like that's some of the things we've been talking about."

Pressure probably played a role into the May slide. It's why McCutchen and the other veterans emphasized keeping the focus on themselves and who they are, rather than the team's record, however tempting that may be.

"I don’t know if you told us after Spring Training was over, we were going to start 20-8," Keller said. "Nobody knows what’s going to happen in the beginning of the season. Nobody knows what they have. I think we came out really hot and a lot of things were falling our way and then I think we ran into some trouble. We weren’t getting the bounces, we weren’t getting the calls, whatever it may be. I think it snowballed on us a little bit. I think it took us a couple weeks to re-group and take a deep breath and everyone to step back and find what their role is. ‘What do I do best? What do you do best?’

"I think we’re getting through that here. I think we’re playing really good baseball. The sky’s the limit for us."

It was a turbulent path to get through May, but at the one-third mark of the season, the Pirates have a winning record at 28-27 and are very much in the mix for what has been a weaker National League Central. 

And that's something nobody is complaining about.

"I think if you asked anybody, they would’ve signed up for that," Bryan Reynolds said. "Obviously, after our start, it’s not what you would’ve liked, but if you take a step back and look at [our record], it’s a pretty good start for us. Just have to build off these last two and have a better June than we had in May."

MORE FROM THE GAME

• Keller was not as sharp as he has been most of this month, and he had to work around 10 hits and allowed four runs in his six innings of work, but he continued to strike out batters. He fanned eight on the afternoon, making him the first Pirate pitcher to strike out at least eight in seven consecutive games:

Keller also has 93 strikeouts this season, the most every by a Pirate pitcher before June, passing 2013 A.J. Burnett, who had 89.

And in case May 31 feels like an important date for him, it was exactly one prior that he rejoined the rotation after being demoted to the bullpen.

"The maturation of Mitch Keller has been one of the most exciting things that we’ve had this year," Shelton said. "The way he goes out and competes is really important. I think we’ve really seen him grow up and do that."

• That's seven wins for Keller. No Pirate pitcher had seven wins a year ago.

• McCutchen picked up three hits, giving him 1,995 on his career.

Something to keep in mind for this homestand as he's right on the edge of a milestone.

"2,000 hits is a lot of hits," Shelton said. "We’re talking about one of the best players in franchise history here. When you get to milestones like that, that’s really important. Excited to see him get it."

• Some quick injury updates from director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk: Oneil Cruz is expected to get out of his walking boot by next week, the team is still learning about Vince Velasquez's reaggravated elbow injury and aren't yet comital to if he will return this season, Wil Crowe (shoulder) is throwing up to 75 feet in a flat ground throwing program and Ji-Man Choi (ankle) is starting a running progression.

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THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE INJURIES

• 15-day injured list: RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow)

• 60-day injured list: 1B Ji-Man Choi (Achilles), RHP Wil Crowe (shoulder), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow)

THE LINEUPS

Shelton's card:

1. Andrew McCutchen, DH
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Connor Joe, 1B
4. Rodolfo Castro, 2B
5. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
6. Jack Suwinski, RF
7. Chris Owings, SS
8. Ji Hwan Bae, CF
9. Austin Hedges, C

And for Gabe Kapler's Giants:

1. LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B
2. J.D. Davis, 3B
3. Mike Yastrzemski, CF
4. Wilmer Flores, DH
5. Blake Sabol, LF
6. Mitch Haniger, RF
7. Patrick Bailey, C
8. Casey Schmitt, SS
9. Brett Wisely, SS

THE SCHEDULE

Back home to Pittsburgh. Roansy Contreras (3-4, 4.33) is back in the rotation and will take on the Cardinals Friday. DK and Danny Shirey will have you covered.

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