On Thursday, Phillies fans endured yet another disappointing night after a miscue by Orion Kerkering in the 11th inning that shook their chances of advancing in the postseason after the loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers won the game 2-1 and clinched a spot in the NLCS, continuing the pursuit of the title, but this game will likely be remembered not so much for how they won, but for how the Phillies lost.
In the top of the seventh, Nick Castellanos drove in a run, bringing home Max Kepler, and in the bottom half of that same inning Justin Dunn scored on a bases-loaded walk.
After that moment a wave of emotion swept the arena: fans celebrated around, while Kerkering stood on the field with his head down until a few teammates came over to support him.
The Dodgers reached the NLCS, where they will face the winner of the series between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, and the clubhouse in their camp filled with joy at returning to the most high-stakes round of the playoffs.
Postgame Analysis: What Went Wrong and Where to Go From Here
Following this decisive moment, the Phillies face a new cycle of reflection on the season’s results and paths to rebound next year. The Philadelphia team will focus on strengthening the depth of their pitching staff and stabilizing the defense, as the error could serve as a lesson for the young roster ahead of important rounds next season.
“It just bounced off my leg.”
– Orion Kerkering
“When the pressure got to me, I thought I needed a quicker throw to JT, a bit quicker than the one to flip the ball across my body to Bryce Harper at first base. So that was just a dumb throw.”
– Orion Kerkering