The American League team combined for 15 strikeouts in their All-Star Game win, but Justin Wrobleski was one of the few bright spots for the National League.
Wrobleski was among six Dodgers named to this year’s All-Star Game, though Shohei Ohtani did not participate due to having his left knee drained and Yoshinobu Yamamoto did not pitch at Citizens Bank Park. Wrobleski wound up completing a game-high two innings and struck out five batters on his 26th birthday.
He joined Billy Herman (twice), Ted Simmons, Andre Dawson, Robin Ventura, Jeff Shaw, Yadier Molina, Howie Kendrick and Justin Steele in the group of players to play in the All-Star Game on their birthday.
Justin Wrobleski ties Dodgers All-Star Game record
Wrobleski’s five strikeouts tied with Don Drysdale (1959) and Fernando Valenzuela (1986) for most by a Dodgers pitcher in an All-Star Game.
Despite largely being pitch-to-contact, Wrobleski struck out the side upon entering the All-Star Game in the seventh inning. He needed just 12 pitches to do so and punctuated the frame by blowing a 97 mph fastball past Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Yandy Díaz.
Wrobleski allowed a solo home run to former Dodgers Minor League teammate Miguel Vargas, but ended the eighth inning with back-to-back strikeouts to tie the franchise record.
Furthermore, Wrobleski’s became the first pitcher with five strikeouts in an All-Star Game since Pedro Martínez achieved the feat in 1999.
Carl Hubbell (1934), Johnny Vander Meer (1943), Larry Jansen (1950) and Fergie Jenkins (1967) share the MLB record with six strikeouts in a single All-Star Game.
The shared history between Martínez and Wrorbleski is all the more fitting considering the Hall of Famer is responsible for the left-hander now having a “Shark” nickname.
Despite an impressive first half of the season, Wrobleski was not named to the NL team until last Saturday as a replacement for Cincinnati Reds’ Chase Burns. Given that it was his first All-Star Game selection, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made sure to lend advice to Wrobleski and Andy Pages, another first-timer.
“I think the number one thing is they earned it,” Roberts said after managing his fifth All-Star Game. “I wanted to let them know that, to take it all in, to enjoy this moment. So much of our lives is about results and performing, and when you do perform and you get rewarded, you got to take time to appreciate it.
“If you don’t, you’re going to drive yourself mad. That was kind of the message.”
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