PITTSBURGH — The Pirates have been shut out a National League-high six times this season.

They also are next to the bottom of the NL rankings in team batting average (.235), hits, runs scored, doubles, home runs and total bases, which makes it difficult for their pitchers.

Zach Duke feels such pain.

The Pirates have scored two or fewer runs for him in each of his last seven starts.

"It can play with your head sometimes — if you let it," the 27-year-old left-hander said. "The key is to not worry about the scoreboard.

"Make your pitches and give your team a chance to win. That's all a starter can do."

Duke is 3-4 with a 4.50 earned run average. His ERA is just above 3.00 in five starts this month — and he has one win to show for it.

That one victory was a 2-1 decision over early Cy Young Award candidate Roy Halladay in Philadelphia last Tuesday.

Duke had a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning April 16 against Cincinnati, only to see closer Octavio Dotel lose the save

On Sunday, he worked seven innings against Atlanta, allowing one unearned run, before being removed for a pinch-hitter in bottom of the inning while holding a 2-1 lead.

Evan Meek surrendered a solo homer to Eric Hinske in the eighth, relegating Duke to another no-decision at home.

"I have no problem with turning the ball over to our bullpen," Duke said. "Evan Meek has been as lights-out as any reliever in the major leagues."

Despite those no-decisions, Duke still has 27 wins at PNC Park, the most by any pitcher. He is 27-11 with a 1.96 ERA in the 54 career starts in which he's pitched at least seven innings.

"We feed off performances like Zach gives us," catcher Ryan Doumit said. "I can tell by where he's spotting the ball in the bullpen whether he's going to have a good game."

He's been pretty good lately. In five April starts, Duke struck out 12 and walked 14. In his five May starts, he's struck out 24 and walked seven.

"His off-speed pitches have been helping him," manager John Russell said. "When he gets first-pitch strikes with his curve ball, Zach is very effective.

"He was moving the ball in and out, up and down extremely well (Sunday). He was in complete command."

Duke admits he has to spot his pitches to be effective.

"I'm not going to overpower anybody," he said. "When I'm getting my changeup and curve over the plate consistently, it works to my favor.

"Anytime a pitcher is only throwing one of his pitches for strikes, he's making it awfully easy for the hitter."

In Duke's Sunday start against the Braves, he threw 66 of his 97 pitches for strikes. He got eight groundball outs, including three double plays, and only four fly ball outs to the outfield.

"That's the way it has to be for me," he said. "Keep the ball down and give my fielders a chance."

Duke has allowed 73 hits this year, second-most in the National League behind Dan Haren's (Arizona) 76.

Notes: Andrew McCutchen's 53 hits were only three behind league leader Martin Prado of the Braves entering Monday's action. ... Left-handed reliever Javier Lopez has allowed just one of 17 inherited runners to score this season. ... Lastings Milledge took an eight-game hitting streak into Monday's game at Cincinnati. ... Opposing hitters are 2-for-28 this month against Dotel. ... The Pirates are 14-3 when scoring four or more runs in a game.