ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dustin May came within a whisker of pitching a perfect game Monday night, and even after losing that bid in the seventh inning, he delivered the most impressive outing of his injury-filled career as the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the San Diego Padres 3-0 at Busch Stadium.
“This is about as good as I’ve felt in a long time,” May said following his one-hit shutout performance.
The 28-year-old right-hander worked through 101 pitches, 69 of which were strikes, and struck out nine batters while issuing just a single walk. It was his first complete game in 71 major league starts.
May’s perfect game bid came to an end in the seventh inning when Fernando Tatis Jr. drew a walk to lead off the frame. Two batters later, Manny Machado laced a single to left field, ending any chance at a no-hitter as well.
Rather than losing his composure, May buckled down and retired the final seven batters he faced. The last out came on a sharp breaking ball that dove low and away, catching Tatis unable to hold his swing as the pitch skipped off the dirt and into catcher Jimmy Crooks’ glove for strike three.
May, who improved to 5-6 on the season, let out a roar of celebration and pumped his fist as he bounded off the mound. He embraced Crooks, acknowledged the crowd with a tip of his cap, and then made his way to a line of teammates and coaches waiting at the dugout entrance for high-fives. One teammate doused him with a chest full of ice.
“After all the stuff I’ve been through in my career,” May said, “that was fantastic.”
May became the first Cardinals starter this season to record an out in the eighth inning — something he himself had not accomplished during a seven-inning no-hit attempt against Milwaukee on May 27. In that game, he was removed before the eighth and ultimately took a 2-1 loss when the Brewers rallied. This time, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol kept him in to finish the job.
May’s path to this moment has been anything but easy. He has dealt with multiple arm injuries and even a life-threatening tear in his esophagus early in his career. Between 2021 and 2024, he logged just 101 innings pitched and missed the entire 2024 season.
Originally with the Los Angeles Dodgers, May was traded to Boston last season. This year marks his first with St. Louis.
Monday’s performance was the ninth complete game thrown in the majors this season and the sixth individual shutout.
