Takashi became the second Dodgers player from Japan to make the All-Star Game, following Hideo Nomo in 1995. While Nomo got there as a starter, Saito got the nod by going 1-0 with 22 saves through June. His 42 strikeouts against just three walks formed the best ratio in the Majors, and he showed his stuff in a perfect seventh inning against the AL.
