"Are you going to pitch the 9th?" → "Is that even a question?" Is he really a glass-arm pitcher? '9 strikeouts, 1 hit allowed' — career-first shutout... Song Sung-moon also went hitless in 4 at-bats, left in tears.

*This content was translated by AI.

Song Sung-moon (30, San Diego Padres) was hitless again. He became the victim of Dustin May's (29, St. Louis Cardinals) perfect shutout performance.

On the 16th (Korean time), May threw 101 pitches over 9 innings in the 2026 MLB home game against San Diego at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, delivering a scoreless gem with 1 hit allowed, 1 walk, and 9 strikeouts.

May led his team to a 3-0 shutout victory, achieving his first career shutout since his debut in 2019. It was also his first career complete game.

On this day, not only Song Sung-moon but the entire San Diego lineup was completely shut down by May's flawless pitching. May easily retired the side in order in the first two innings. In the third, with one out, Song faced May with a 1-1 count and was retired on a two-out grounder to the second baseman after a cutter on the hanbok plate.

May, who had not allowed a single baserunner, faced Song again in the sixth with one out. This time, with a 2-2 count, Song swung and missed at a 93.8 mph (150.9 km/h) cutter low and inside, resulting in a strikeout.

Thanks to May's outstanding performance, the St. Louis lineup scored two runs in the fourth on consecutive hits by Las Nuba and Mayshin Win, followed by a double from Jimmy Crook. In the fifth, with two outs, a walk by Ivan Herrera, an error by starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, and a two-run double by Alex Verelsen extended the lead to 3-0.

For May, who was on an incredible run, three runs were more than enough to secure the win. In the seventh, facing Fernando Tatis Jr., May started with a 3-0 deficit and went to a full count, but eventually threw a high pitch that resulted in a walk, allowing his first baserunner of the game.

Still pursuing a no-hitter, May took a hit from Manny Machado on a ground ball to left field and lowered his head. However, he focused even more intensely and induced a double play to the shortstop with Gavin Sheets with one out and runners on first and third, ending the inning without allowing a run.

May retired the side in order in the eighth with three strikeouts, having thrown 93 pitches. He then returned for the ninth, retiring the first batter, Song Sung-moon, on a line drive to left field. He then caught Rodolfo Duran on a fly ball to right field and struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. with a sweeping slider that broke far outside, securing the shutout.

Selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round, 101st overall, in 2016, May made his MLB debut in 2019 and has shown consistent performance. He was traded mid-last season to the Boston Red Sox and signed with St. Louis ahead of this season, where he has been serving as the team's ace.

This was the first shutout by a St. Louis player since Sony Gray on June 28 last year, and the first at Busch Stadium since Miles Mikolas on July 16, 2019.

May, who has struggled with frequent injuries since his 2019 debut, with 132 1/3 innings last season being his highest single-season total, has shown an even better pace this season, likely due to strong motivation after signing a one-year contract.

After the game, St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said, "It means a lot. We believed that if May could overcome all the difficulties he's faced in recent years, regain his proper weight, and maximize his potential through proper off-season training, he could deliver amazing performances." He added, "He did exactly that. It's truly wonderful to see a performance like today's."

Recording nine strikeouts in a single game was also a career first. Even more impressive is that seven of those nine strikeouts came after the sixth inning. May showed no signs of fatigue and was full of energy even as he took control of the game.

Even after finishing the eighth inning with 93 pitches, the bullpen remained quiet. There was a firm belief that May could handle the ninth. Manager Marmol said, "I asked May if he had the energy to pitch more. He glanced at me and then walked back to the mound."

When asked if he intended to pitch in the ninth, May replied, "Of course. 100%. The manager came over and asked how I was feeling, and I responded, 'Is that even a question?' because I was ready to go back on the mound."

With his fifth win (six losses), May lowered his ERA from 4.21 to 3.75.

Meanwhile, Song Sung-moon, who was hitless in two consecutive games, saw his season batting average drop from 0.190 to 0.178 (8 hits in 45 at-bats), his on-base percentage fall from 0.292 to 0.275, and his slugging percentage drop from 0.214 to 0.200. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) became 0.475.

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*This content was translated by AI.