9.17 pretty clearly states that the scorer can assign the W to the most effective relief pitcher.
I'm not sure anyone can make the argument that Kolarek was more effective than May.
Think you’re referring to 9.17(b). But, that section doesn’t apply here.
9.17 (b) would apply if SP completes bottom of the 2nd and his team takes the lead in top of the 3rd and never relinquishes lead. Then, most effective reliever gets the win because SP didn’t go 5.
Here, reliever Kolarek (and not the SP) completed the 2nd and his team took the lead in top of the third. That makes Kolarek the pitcher of record under Rule 9.17 (a). Doesn’t matter which reliever is most effective.
There is a proviso exception to 9.17 (a) that refers to Rule 9.17 (c): a reliever who is “ineffective” in a brief appearance (even if he is pitcher of record under 9.17(a). Comment to 9.17 c) says generally applies if reliever allows 2 or more runs to score—can be deemed “ineffective” if official scorer so chooses.
But proviso doesn’t apply here as only 1 run scored in the Kolarek inning. Therefore, Kolarek has to get the win under 9.17 (a).