Complex sentence: Early in the season, though, his batting average was as low as.172 (on May 1); that average, combined with the fact teammate Alex Cora was hitting.316 through the end of May, left Pedroia in a platoon role.
Split into simpler sentences: Early in the season, though, his batting average was as low as.172 (on May 1). That average, combined with the fact teammate Alex Cora was hitting.316 through the end of May, left Pedroia in a platoon role.