Dustin May’s near no-hitter ends in heartbreak as Brewers complete dramatic sweep of Cardinals

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May 27, 2026 - 20:13

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May

Dustin May’s near no-hitter ends in heartbreak as Brewers complete dramatic sweep of Cardinals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For seven innings, Dustin May looked ready to author one of the defining performances of his career. Instead, the afternoon ended with the Milwaukee Brewers celebrating a stunning comeback and a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. After carrying a no-hit bid into the eighth inning Wednesday at American Family Field, May watched everything unravel late in a painful 2-1 Brewers victory.

Milwaukee finally broke through when Garrett Mitchell doubled to left field to end the no-hit chase. Moments later, Luis Rengifo dropped down a bunt single, setting the stage for the Brewers’ comeback inning.

Then came the collapse.

Christian Yelich lined a game-tying RBI single to right before Milwaukee grabbed the lead after a fielding error by Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn allowed the go-ahead run to score. In a matter of minutes, one of the best starts of May’s career turned into one of the toughest losses of the Cardinals’ season.

Dustin May dominated Milwaukee until everything changed

That sudden shift felt especially cruel considering how overpowering May looked for most of the afternoon. The Cardinals right-hander struck out nine Brewers hitters and completely silenced Milwaukee’s lineup through seven innings. His upper-90s fastball exploded through the zone while his breaking pitches generated uncomfortable swings throughout the game.

The Brewers never looked comfortable early. May struck out the side in the first inning and repeatedly worked out of small moments before they became real threats. Even Milwaukee’s few baserunners came through unusual circumstances, including a catcher’s interference call in the third inning.

For most of Wednesday, it looked like the Cardinals had finally found a positive ending to an emotionally charged series. Instead, the Brewers found another way to win.

Brewers finish sweep after tension-filled series

The comeback victory also completed a three-game sweep that carried extra emotion following Tuesday’s drama between the teams. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol had publicly accused Milwaukee of relaying signs from the dugout during the previous game, leading to visible tension and antics involving Brewers reliever Abner Uribe.

Much of the attention entering Wednesday centered around possible retaliation or another confrontation. Instead, the Brewers simply kept winning.

Milwaukee improved to 33-20 with the victory and further strengthened its grip atop the NL Central standings, while St. Louis continued a frustrating slide after entering the series hoping to gain ground in the division race.

HERE: Abner Uribe apologized to everyone except the Cardinals; now all eyes turn to Dustin May

Dustin May still reminded baseball why teams keep believing

Even with the brutal ending, May’s outing still served as a reminder of why organizations remain fascinated by his upside. The former Los Angeles Dodgers standout has spent years battling injuries that repeatedly interrupted what once looked like ace-level potential. Tommy John surgery, recurring elbow problems, back injuries and even a frightening life-threatening esophageal tear in 2024 all altered the trajectory of his career.

But on afternoons like Wednesday, the talent still looks undeniable. That is what made the ending feel so difficult for St. Louis. For seven innings, Dustin May gave the Cardinals exactly what they needed against one of baseball’s hottest teams. By the eighth inning, the Brewers had taken everything away anyway.