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Rare Brewer All Star Moments, #9: Plesac Punches Out Strawberry

This is part two in a ten part series chronicling Brewers' greatest moments in the All Star Game.

The 1988 game featured two Brewers. The first was Paul Molitor, making his third appearance. He started at second base and went 0-for-3 with a GIDP and a strikeout, and was lifted from the game defensively in the bottom of the fifth.

Meanwhile, the other Brewer sat out in the bullpen and waited for his chance. Dan Plesac had saved 22 games with a 2.08 ERA before the break, and was already 6-for-6 closing out games in the first ten days in July. With two outs in the top of the eighth, Cardinal outfielder Willie McGee reached on an error and represented the potential tying run on first base with Darryl Strawberry due up. AL manager Tom Kelly had seen enough and called in Plesac, who struck out Strawberry to end the threat.

George Brett pinch hit for Plesac in the top of the ninth, and Dennis Eckersley pitched the bottom half and recorded the save for the Junior Circuit in a 2-1 victory.

Plesac recorded his next three saves for the Brewers without allowing a baserunner, but only pitched eight times between August and September. He finished the year with a 2.41 ERA became just the second Brewer ever to record 30 saves.