Veteran poise puts Dodgers on brink of closing out tight series

PHILADELPHIA A $415-million payroll can buy a team a lot of nice things.

- BY JACK HARRIS

BLAKE SNELL turned in a nine-strikeout performance to match Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo.

Superstar hitters. Dominant starting pitching. Depth to weather a long season. A level of talent unmatched by any other contender.

This year's Dodgers have all that, thanks to a payroll (by competitive balance tax calculations) that not only led the majors this season but set an MLB record.

What it also bought them was battle-tested veteran experience.

And in a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Monday night, that made the difference as much as anything.

When the Dodgers were getting dominated by Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo early, they didn't lose their approach or start to press in the box. When they got their lone chance to break the score open in the seventh, they snatched it with a four-run rally enabled by ruthless poise and composure.

Even in the ninth inning, when the game started spiraling and a three-run lead was in danger of being squandered by the bullpen, they kept their cool, executed the fundamentals including on a bunt play that changed the complexion of the inning and came out of Citizens Bank Park with a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

"Great ballgame, great plays," manager Dave Roberts said. "The at-bats, taking walks and all of that.

The defense, baserunning, everything. Just top-notch." Now, with one more win, the Dodgers will be one step closer to defending their World Series title.

They haven't always made it easy on themselves this season.

They didn't always conjure enough focus or intensity in a 93-win regular season that qualified as a disappointment. But when their best has been required this month-including in front of 45,653 crazed Phillies fans on Monday - they've been able to deliver.