LOS ANGELES _ Gabe Kapler dropped his portfolio onto a dugout chair Thursday evening and left his perch at Dodger Stadium to meet Aaron Nola, who returned from the dugout after his seventh brilliant inning.
But the manager had to wait his turn as a small receiving line had already formed in the Phillies dugout. Nola _ who allowed just one run in a 2-1 win over the Dodgers _ had that type of day. The right-hander yielded just two hits, struck out seven, and walked one. He threw 111 pitches, 73 of which were strikes. This, as Kapler tends to say, was "Noles being Noles." The pitcher's latest gem lowered his ERA to 2.18.
Kapler eventually squeezed his way to Nola and shook the pitcher's hand before returning to his perch and grabbing that portfolio. The manager needed six more outs to salvage a split of the four-game series.
So Kapler called on rookie Seranthony Dominguez, the team's most trusted reliever who has yet to meet a situation that is too big. Dominguez retired the six batters he faced. The only threat came from Kike Hernandez, who started the eighth by smoking a fly ball to right field. Aaron Altherr played the ball perfectly, tracking it down for a sliding catch. That would be the only test Dominguez would face.
The Phillies gave Nola a lead in the top of the seventh when Scott Kingery scored from first on Jorge Alfaro's double to right center. The hit fell between center fielder Cody Bellinger and right fielder Yasiel Puig and bounced to the warning track. Alfaro was out at third to end the inning, which ended up being a blessing. Nola was on deck and would have been pulled for a pinch-hitter if Alfaro was safe. Instead, he was able to throw another inning.
Clayton Kershaw, in his first start since May 1, did not throw a pitch harder than 90 mph but he still tamed the Phillies for five innings. He didn't throw a fastball in his final outing of work yet still managed to strike out the side. Kershaw allowed just one run on four hits. He struck out five and walked one. Kershaw, even with reduced velocity, was still tough to crack.
The Phillies scored their lone run against Kershaw without the runner even touching home plate. Alfaro dropped a single into center and Maikel Franco sprinted home from second. The throw skipped away from catcher Max Muncy and Franco stepped over home, but umpire Will Little still ruled him safe. The Phillies would take anything they could against Kershaw.
The Dodgers used four relievers to record the final 12 outs. And each of them proved to be just as challenging as Kershaw. But the Phillies scored the lone run they would need when Kingery sprinted home. He made sure to stomp his cleat on the plate before returning to the dugout. Nola had his lead. And three outs later, his manager was looking for him in the dugout after another day of "Noles being Noles."
