Dodgers’ Wrobleski dominates in 11-strikeout gem as A’s lose 3rd straight series
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- Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski struck out a career-high 11 batters over seven innings.
- A’s starter Jeffrey Springs allowed six runs, two homers and four walks in 5⅔ innings.
- Dave Roberts became the fastest manager to reach 1,000 wins in 1,606 games.
There were uncharacteristic offensive performances on both sides of Tuesday’s matchup between the Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers, almost all breaking in favor of the visiting Dodgers, who secured a series win with their 9-3 victory at Sutter Health Park.
Two of the A’s first three hitters and most consistent bats — Henry Bolte and Nick Kurtz — struck out three times each against dominant Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski, who allowed three runs in seven innings with a career-high 11 strikeouts. Overall, the A’s struck out 15 times Tuesday.
“It’s cool to strike a guy like that out,” Wrobleski said of Kurtz. The 25-year-old Dodgers starter holds a 2.71 earned run average this season and became the third pitcher this season to notch 10 wins. “You get fired up, because that’s a guy you circle in the lineup.”
On the other side, A’s starter Jeffrey Springs struggled to contain the Dodgers, surrendering six runs, four walks and two home runs in just 5 2/3 innings of work.
Notably, the two Dodgers to homer were two of the only players in the dangerous Dodger lineup not known for their power.
Tommy Edman, who has never hit more than 13 in a season, launched his first home run of an injury-shortened season in the third inning to plate three runs.
Miguel Rojas hit his third long ball of 2026 in the sixth inning which scored the last run before Springs was pulled.
“You want to put together quality outings, try to give us a chance to win,” an emotional Springs said postgame, after his sixth straight start allowing at least three runs. “I just don’t feel like I’m doing that.”
Roberts makes history with 1,000th win
Besides improving the Dodgers’ MLB-best record to 56-30 and pushing the 40-46 A’s farther out of the postseason hunt, Tuesday’s game had historic implications for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
The win against the A’s was the 1,000th victory of Roberts’ career as a manager. He became the fastest manager in MLB history to accomplish the feat after doing so in 1,606 games across 11 seasons — 35 fewer than the previous record holder Cap Anson, according to MLB.com statistics guru Sara Langs.
“It’s mind blowing,” Roberts said of the milestone, minutes after his players led a champagne toast in the visiting clubhouse in West Sacramento. “I still feel like I’m getting better, and I still enjoy it.”
A’s manager Mark Kotsay and Roberts coached together briefly in 2015 with the San Diego Padres before becoming managers and have continued to develop a friendship that dates back to their times playing in the MLB. Earlier Tuesday, before Roberts reached his 1,000th win against his friend, the two played nine holes of golf.
“It’s pretty special,” Kotsay said postgame. “Not only does he provide that leadership but the charisma. He’s a really special person and I think that’s what it takes to lead that club.”
A’s Thomas shines, Springs struggles
While a majority of the offense has struggled in the first two games of the Dodgers series, Colby “Crank” Thomas has lived up to his nickname, homering in both contests, including a two-run shot in the seventh frame Tuesday to close the gap slightly on the Dodgers. Thomas also singled off Wrobleski in the second inning to go 2-for-4.
Though he has been performing well as of late, Thomas got off to a slow start this season and had just two home runs in 37 games before the Dodgers series, making his recent success all the more sweet.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work in the cage and it’s nice to see those results,” Thomas said of his two home runs in this series postgame. “It felt awesome.”
No other A’s player reached base more than once Tuesday.
Like most of the lineup, Tuesday’s loss was one starter Springs will hope to forget.
Springs, a 33-year-old left-hander, has seen his season steadily unravel since beginning the season 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA. He hasn’t won a game since April 14 and is now 3-8 with a 5.79 ERA.
“I feel like this stuff’s fine,” Springs said. “I’ve just got to do a better job executing, especially against a team like that.”
While Springs leads the MLB in home runs surrendered with 24 and the American League in earned runs surrendered with 60, he has also proved to be one of the most durable pitchers in the league, starting 18 games already this season, tied for the most in baseball.
When asked postgame if his durability was something he could take pride in amid a rough season, Springs said he can only hope to perform better for his team.
“Right now it’s a little bit tough to see that (as a positive),” Springs said.
The series loss was the A’s third in a row.
Rooker getting reevaluated
Before the game, Kotsay said 2025 All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker was being reevaluated Tuesday after he was placed on the injured list earlier this month with a left knee bone bruise.
The A’s said earlier this week that Rooker had begun running and swinging progressions, which Kotsay called “good progress” but also said his recovery had stalled slightly as of late.
“I would say there’s reason to feel like it hasn’t progressed as fast and as efficient as we’d like,” Kotsay said.
The A’s will finish their series with the Dodgers at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday at Sutter Health Park, with superstar Shohei Ohtani no longer scheduled to start on the mound for L.A. and the Dodgers instead opting to play a bullpen game.
This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 11:25 PM with the headline "Dodgers’ Wrobleski dominates in 11-strikeout gem as A’s lose 3rd straight series."
