St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May clenched his right fist as he skipped off the mound after hurling a statement game in Monday’s 3-0 shutout victory over San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.
The 28-year-old right-hander threw a 101-pitch masterpiece in his first complete game in 71 major league starts.
May ended the game with one hit, one walk, and nine strikeouts in a masterful showing that helped him improve to 5-6 this season.
Dustin May dominant in complete game shutout of the Padres
May pitched a perfect game into the seventh, losing the bid after Fernando Tatis Jr patiently waited for a fourth ball that allowed him to advance to first base via walk.
Two batters later, Manny Machado belted a single to left field, completely breaking the no-hit bid.
That did not faze May, who was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to Boston last season before signing a one-year, $12.5-million contract with the Cardinals in December 2025, as he retired the last seven batters he faced.
His final pitch broke low and away so sharply that Tatis was unable to check his swing.
The ball skipped off the dirt and into the glove of catcher Jimmy Crooks for strike three.
After completing the one-hit shutout, May hugged Crooks and tipped his cap to the crowd before approaching teammates and coaches who had lined up in front of the dugout to exchange high-fives. One teammate dumped a chest of ice on him in celebration.
Dustin May overcomes health issues to pitch for the Cardinals
The ice bath erased May’s bad memories that included multiple arm injuries – and a life-threatening esophagus tear – early in his career.
His health issues relegated him to pitch 101 innings between 2021 and 2024, until even worse when he missed the entire 2024 season.
The Cardinals starter became the first club player this season to get an out in the eighth inning.
May had a chance to put up the record but he failed to do so during a seven-inning, no-hit bid against Milwaukee last month.
St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol decided to replace the righty in the eighth inning of the Brewers’ game and took the loss after Milwaukee rallied for a 2-1 victory on May 27.
This time around, Marmol let May finish his masterpiece.
After the game, May said that he felt fantastic after struggling through his career.
May’s outing on Monday night marked the ninth complete game and sixth individual shutout in the majors this season.
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Diana Mae Y. Cleto 
Andre Alfonso R. Gutierrez 
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