MINNEAPOLIS -- A 28-minute rain delay before first pitch did nothing to cool down Justin Wrobleski.
With the National League All-Star roster selections right around the corner, the Dodgers' left-hander made his latest statement Tuesday night, earning his ninth victory of the season by turning in seven innings to anchor a 12-3 win over the Twins at Target Field.
Wrobleski held the Twins to five hits and two earned runs. He walked two and struck out three, with one run crossing on a solo home run by Victor Caratini in the second inning.
The appearance marked the fifth time this season that Wrobleski has pitched at least seven innings. His ability to consistently log deep starts is what the team believes has earned him a spot in the conversation for the Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia.
"He's certainly worthy of All-Star consideration," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said pregame. "I forgot what year it was, where Tony Gonsolin made the All-Star team and was in a similar boat. Obviously with what Wrobo's done, as far as the numbers, he's right in the mix. I don't fortunately have any say in the voting. But I hope he does get some consideration."
In the clubhouse after the game, Wrobleski remained focused on his progression rather than individual accolades.
"The numbers are cool and it's great, but at the same time, I think I could have been a little better," Wrobleski said. "It'd be cool [to make the All-Star team]. It's something you dream of, something you always want the chance to do, and it's hard to be in that conversation. But at the same time, I'm just staying within my process. The chips are going to fall where they're going to fall."
Wrobleski noted that navigating the Twins' lineup required real-time adjustments with catcher Chuckie Robinson.
"We did a good job ... just kind of adjusting on the fly and changing the mix a little bit on that second, third time through [the order]," he said. "I was just excited to get through seven because not a lot of people get through seven anymore. ... Anytime you can finish seven innings in the big leagues, it's a plus."
The Dodgers' offense provided heavy support behind Wrobleski, finishing the night with 17 hits. Los Angeles opened the scoring in the first on a Tommy Edman RBI single. After the Twins tied the contest, the Dodgers capitalized on a throwing error in the third to retake the lead before pulling away in the fourth on RBI singles from Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts alongside an Ohtani sacrifice fly.
"There was a presence for each guy in the batter's box," Roberts said of the offensive approach. "There was some intent behind their bats. ... A lot of good at-bats, some slugging there, some timely hitting, all the above, really as good of an offensive outing as we've had in quite some time."
Freeman added an insurance run in the sixth with an RBI double to bring home Andy Pages, passing Carlos Beltrán on for 29th all-time with 566 two-baggers. In the top of the seventh, Robinson executed a sacrifice bunt to drive home Alex Call from third base, extending the lead to five.
"A lot of grinding at-bats," Freeman said. “And that's what it's all about. Never giving up an at-bat, and this group did a great job."
The lineup capped the night by putting together a five-run frame in the top of the ninth. Call began the surge with a solo home run to left field off Twins reliever Taylor Rogers, his first homer of the season. Following the homer, pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas delivered an RBI double to score Alex Freeland, Pages drove in a run on a line-drive single, and Max Muncy capped the visitors’ scoring with a two-run double to right field.
For Call -- who was born in Burnsville, Minn., and raised nearby where he starred at River Falls High School in Wisconsin -- the home run served as a special homecoming moment in front of a large contingent of family, friends and former college teammates from Ball State who made the trip to Target Field.
"I let out a few screams myself, so just super fun," Call said. "Just what a great day overall. Just from start to finish, a long one, but a pretty special one I'll remember for a while."
Call credited pregame adjustments and reassurance from his manager for helping him break through.
"[Roberts] sat me down and said, 'You look like you're trying a little too hard.'” Call said. “He does a great job just telling how it is and saying, 'Hey, we love you and we love exactly what you bring to the game.' Basically, just take a deep, deep breath and be Alex Call."