Dodgers Take 3-1 NLDS Lead After Thrilling 11th-Inning Finish
In a dramatic end to an evenly fought National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in 11 innings, clinching the series and sending the defending World Series champions to the NL Championship Series. The deciding moment came when Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering mishandled a bases-loaded comebacker, allowing Hyeseong Kim to sprint home for the winning run with two outs in the 11th.
Late-Game Drama Turns on One Misplayed Grounder
Philadelphia had built a brief advantage in the seventh, when Nick Castellanos lined an RBI double to put the Phillies ahead against Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan. The lead, though, was not secure for long. In the bottom of the seventh, the Dodgers loaded the bases and Mookie Betts walked, forcing in the tying run on a pitch that didn’t need to be perfect but proved decisive in a tense moment of baseball’s postseason baseball chess match.
Rollicking Ninth to Friday’s Fifth-Clip Dilemma
The game remained a one-run duel into the late innings, deflating the crowd at Dodger Stadium when Emmanuel Kneeling into the fray became a distant memory as the Phillies — clad in powder blue throwback uniforms — looked to close out a series win on the road. The Dodgers, refusing to let the moment slip away, mounted late inspiration from their dugout and the patience of their hitters, offsetting a masterful start by the Phillies’ pitching staff.
Game-Defining Error and a Moment of Postseason Heartbreak
Kerkering’s throw, a wild sidestep past catcher J.T. Realmuto after a comebacker, halted the Phillies’ momentum and instantly changed the complexion of the inning. The miscue, compounded by a walk to Kiké Hernández, loaded the bases and set the stage for Pages’ grounder — a routine play that instead became the unintended catalyst for the Dodgers’ walk-off triumph. Kerkering, visibly distraught, received a consoling arm from Phillies manager Rob Thomson as he retreated to the dugout, a stark reminder of how a single miscue can become the defining moment in a playoff series.
Setting the Stage for an NL Championship Series
With this win, the Dodgers advance to the National League Championship Series, waiting to learn whether they’ll meet the Chicago Cubs or the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s a familiar path for a franchise that has reset expectations with consistent postseason appearances, and it underscores the resilience of a lineup that can manufacture runs when it matters most. For the Phillies, the defeat marks a third consecutive seasons of disappointment in the Division Series, a frustration they’ll seek to quiet in the years ahead.
Key Players and Moments
Offensively, the Dodgers leaned on timely production from a deep lineup, with Jhoan Duran singing in relief and Mookie Betts drawing the crucial bases-loaded walk that brought home the tying run. Tommy Edman and Max Muncy contributed pivotal hits that helped posture the late-inning pressure on Philadelphia’s defense. For the Phillies, Castellanos provided the early spark, and Realmuto continued to be a steady focal point for the offense, even as the final outcome slipped away due to Kerkering’s miscue.
Looking Ahead
As the Dodgers prepare for the NLCS, the team will aim to keep power and poise at the forefront, leveraging clutch hitting and bullpen depth that has carried them through the playoffs. The Phillies, meanwhile, will reset quickly, looking to translate their late-season form into a deeper postseason run next fall. Thursday’s result will be etched in Dodgers history as a hard-fought, nerve-wracking victory that required every ounce of effort from a team that believes it can prevail under pressure.
