Red Wings' May does his month proud

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the month of May belonged to ... Trevor May.

The Twins' No. 12 prospect gave up four hits over seven scoreless innings Saturday night, pitching Triple-A Rochester to a 6-1 win over visiting Gwinnett.

May (5-3) walked two and struck out four, exiting after throwing 64 of 100 pitches for strikes. All of the four hits he allowed were singles and only two runners got past second base against him.

"I started out trying to locate the fastball in and out and I was able to get ahead early," May said. "I was able to get the curveball over for strikes and I had some phenomenal plays made behind me. I was able to get deeper into the game, and in the end we came out with the 'W.'"

Saturday's performance capped a phenomenal month for the 24-year-old right-hander. He posted a 1.46 ERA while limiting International League opponents to a .201 batting average. May has won four straight starts and has not allowed an earned run over his last 26 innings.

"To be honest, I worked so hard on my approach to the game," he said, "not only what I have working in the given day, pitching to my strengths and making pitches when I need to. It's something I haven't done as well in the past. Instead of getting caught up in what's going on around me, I really tried to focus on the task at hand and the pitch that needs to be made. A little luck has also come through, but they say the guys who are most prepared are lucky.

"My approach to my game has been there. The only thing I've wanted to accomplish is being consistent in my approach, and I think I have been able to do that really well."

The 2008 fourth-round pick started the Red Wings' first game of the month, notching a season-high 11 strikeouts on May 1. Getting another win on May 31 to complete the best month of his career did not escape May's attention.

"I pitched on May Day, the first of the month, and of course I pitched on the last day of the month," he said. "When your last name is a month, I guess it's your month."

May ranks seventh in the league with a 2.62 ERA and leads IL starting pitchers with a .196 opponents' batting average.

Matt Hoffman relieved May in the eighth and allowed a run on two hits while retiring two batters. A.J. Achter followed with 1 1/3 hitless innings to earn his fourth save.

Shortstop Pedro Florimon, whom May credited with a great defensive play, slugged a solo homer for the Red Wings, while Doug Bernier contributed two hits and two RBIs.

Braves starter Hector Daniel Rodriguez fell to 4-6 after giving up four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits over five innings.