Pittsburgh Pirates report card for 5/9-5/19

SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 19: Cole Tucker #3 and Starling Marte #6 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after defeating the San Diego Padres 6-4 at Petco Park May 19, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 19: Cole Tucker #3 and Starling Marte #6 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after defeating the San Diego Padres 6-4 at Petco Park May 19, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – MAY 16: Trevor Williams #34 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park May 16, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – MAY 16: Trevor Williams #34 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park May 16, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Dishing out grades for the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4 road trip

The Pittsburgh Pirates latest road trip started with maybe the most embarrassing loss of the season. With injuries mounting, particularly to the starting pitching staff, and 10 games against winning teams ahead, this stretch looked like the beginning of the end for the local club. As it turned out, doomsday is far away.

With a legit MVP candidate playing at first base, a number five starter proving to be the heist of the offseason and a bullpen rising to the occasion, the Pirates went 7-3 the rest of the way, and are now four games above .500 with the chance to make some more noise coming back to Pittsburgh. Here is a “report card,” evaluating how Pittsburgh performed in the key areas of baseball over the 11 game stretch.