Rick Porcello continued his superb form, one-hitting the Pirates over eight shutout innings. He's allowed two runs or less in six straight starts, lowering his ERA from 9 to 3.08 in the process. 

James Shields rebounded from a lackluster effort (for his standards) earlier in the week against the Yankees, striking out a career-high (and Rays record) 13 Marlins in a complete game shutout gem. Ten of the 13 K's came via the swinging variety. That was his third CG and second shutout of the young season. 

Alexei Ramirez drove in a run in three of the first four innings on Sunday. He has seven hits, four doubles, four runs, a homer and seven RBI in his last two games.  In the opposite dugout, 23-year old Jerry Sands picked up four of the Dodgers eight hits in a losing effort. 

Matt Harrison bewildered the slumping Philadelphia bats during 119 pitches of brilliance, allowing zero runs on five hits over 8 1/3. The Phillies mustered multiple base runners in just one inning. 

Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the 7th inning, the Yankees sent 12 men to the plate and scored eight runs. A-Rod notched his second four-hit game of the week, and has 13 hits in his last 27 official AB's. His average is rising in a flash, up to .284. 

Felix Hernandez struck out 13 anemic Padres in eight dominant innings. Chris Denorfia was the lone survivor of the K parade. The Pads only sent six balls out of the infield, and scored an "explosive" two runs in the three-game set– getting the broom. 

The Cardinals and Royals played one of the season's more bizarre contests: 1. The Cards blew a 7-1 lead, only to recover for a 9-8 W in ten innings. 2. Royals pitching walked 13 batters. The Cardinals left 33 –THIRTY THREE– men on base. 3. Colby Rasmus stepped up to the dish six times, and ended up with one official AB. He walked five times. By the way, he entered the game one for his last 15. 4. Yadier Molina went 4/5 with three RBI and two runs scored. However, his one misstep came on a bases loaded whiff. 

When Edinson Volquez isn't sharp, the results are tough to bare: 2 2/3 innings, seven hits, six ER and four BB. His 1.67 WHIP and 6.35 ERA are not acceptable given his filthy stuff. Command is the problem, as he's now walked at least four batters in six of his ten starts. 

The Brewers scored three runs on only two hits, putting the finishing touches on a sweep of the Rockies in the lone NL/NL series. 

Brett Wallace picked up two more hits on Sunday (.318), but where's the power? Two extra-base hits in May is not going to cut for the 260 pound first baseman. 

Vladimir Guerrero's streak of seven consecutive multi-hit games was snapped, but "Bad Vlad" uncorked the game winning two-run blast in the bottom of the 7th to send the O's to a series victory. 

In 71 May at bats, Ryan Howard has struck out a ludicrous 27 times. He's hitting a putrid .174 this month. Chase Utley will be activated from the DL on Monday, and there is no happier camper than Howard. 

Matt Joyce (.355) and Casey Kotchman (.352) have vaulted themselves into the conversation for baseball’s best one-two punch. No, not really, but they are both raking.

(May 15, 2011 – Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America)