Highlights
Phillies were eliminated after Orion Kerkering’s game-losing error in the 11th
Dodgers advance to NLCS amid widespread sympathy for Kerkering
The Dodgers became just the second team in MLB history to clinch a series on a walk-off error
The Philadelphia Phillies’ 2025 season ended in the most brutal way possible Thursday night, undone by a single mistake in extra innings. Reliever Orion Kerkering, once the rising star of the bullpen, committed a fateful error in the 11th that handed the Dodgers a 2–1 walk-off win and sent Los Angeles to the NLCS.
What Went Wrong
It was the kind of play pitchers practice endlessly in spring training.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Andy Pages hit a routine comebacker to the mound. Kerkering gloved it cleanly, but instead of taking the sure out at first, he rushed a throw home that skipped past catcher J.T. Realmuto. Hyeseong Kim crossed the plate with the winning run, and in a blink, the Phillies’ season was over.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sympathized, calling it “brutal,” adding, “It’s a PFP, a pitcher’s fielding practice. He’s done it a thousand times. Right there he was so focused on the hitter he just forgot the outs and the situation. Kerkering is a stud. You definitely feel for a player.”
The images were heartbreaking. Phillies manager Rob Thomson placed a consoling arm on his pitcher as they walked off. His teammates were consoling him in the dugout after the game.
Rare Company in Postseason History
According to OptaStats, the Dodgers became only the second team in MLB postseason history to clinch a series on a walk-off error. The only other time came exactly nine years ago to the day, when Rougned Odor’s errant throw to first base allowed Josh Donaldson to score, sealing a Blue Jays sweep of the Rangers in the 2016 ALDS.
Philadelphia’s season didn’t just end, it ended in a way so rare it had happened only once before in playoff history.
From Breakout to Breakdown
This was not Kerkering’s first taste of October.
He made his MLB debut in September 2023 after climbing rapidly through the Phillies’ farm system. Just weeks later, he earned a surprise spot on the postseason roster, where he delivered fearless innings as a rookie. That brief run cemented his reputation as a bullpen piece for the future — a flamethrower seemingly unfazed by pressure.
That is why Thursday night’s collapse hurt so deeply. The same pitcher who looked so poised on the big stage two years ago now stands defined by one catastrophic lapse.
Phillies’ Broader Failures
Kerkering’s mistake was the final punctuation on a series of mistakes and failures for the Phillies.
Philadelphia’s offense sputtered all series, leaving runners in scoring position and failing to manufacture timely hits. In Game 4, Nick Castellanos supplied the only RBI double before the bats went quiet. Earlier, a bases-loaded walk from Jhoan Durán erased a lead and set the table for heartbreak.
What might have been a minor miscue in April became a season-ending error in October.
Reaction Around Baseball
Across baseball, reaction skewed toward empathy.
Even Mets broadcaster Howie Rose posted on X: “I don’t care who you root for, but if you can’t find even an ounce of compassion for Orion Kerkering you are undoubtedly devoid of a soul.”
Roberts echoed that sentiment, insisting Kerkering’s talent and future remain unquestioned despite the misstep. Phillies players and staff visibly rallied around the 24-year-old, determined to shield him from the harsh spotlight. Still, the image of Kerkering head bowed as the Dodgers erupted will be seared into postseason lore.
The Legacy of the Loss