Overview: Dodgers Edge Phillies in a dramatic 11th-inning finish
The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed the National League Division Series in a dramatic 3-1 series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, thanks to a decisive error in the 11th inning by Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering. A routine grounder that should have ended the frame instead caromed past catcher and changed the series fate as pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim dashed home to score the winning run.
Trailing 1-0 after Nick Castellanos’ RBI double in the seventh gave Philadelphia a brief lead, the Dodgers rallied in the bottom of the inning when Mookie Betts drew a bases-loaded walk, forcing in the tying run and keeping the momentum on Los Angeles’ side. The stage was set for an unlikely walk-off as the Phillies chased a championship bid in enemy territory.
Key moments: the 11th that changed the night
With the game knotted at 1-1 after regulation, the Dodgers mounted offense in the 11th inning. Tommy Edman led off with a single off Jesús Luzardo and reached third on a single from Max Muncy that eluded a diving shortstop. Those two baserunners kept the inning alive and turned the pressure toward Philadelphia’s closer prospects in a high-leverage moment.
The turning point came with bases loaded: Kerkering, who had just entered the frame, failed to secure a routine grounder from Andy Pages. The throw sailed past catcher J.T. Realmuto, allowing the pinch-runner to score uncontested from third. The error immediately flipped the game’s script and sent the Dodgers’ dugout into jubilation while the Phillies grappled with a crushed sense of what might have been.
What happened next: consequences beyond the final out
After the miscue, the Dodgers completed their celebration on the field as the crowd of 50,563 surged to its feet. The misplayed ball ended Philadelphia’s shot at extending the series and kept Los Angeles on track to face either the Chicago Cubs or the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. The win marked the Dodgers’ eighth appearance in the NLCS over 13 seasons, underscoring their ongoing championship-era consistency.
Strategic angles: bullpen decisions and late-game management
Philadelphia’s bullpen had produced a strong challenge throughout the series, with Nick Castellanos delivering the go-ahead hit in the seventh. But the decisive hit and the late error shifted the tactical chessboard in the Dodgers’ favor. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts leaned on late-inning relievers and trusted his lineup to grind through the late innings, setting up a favorable scenario in a tight divisional showdown.
Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson gave his relievers a tough assignment in a hostile road environment, where the crowd’s energy amplified every action. The loss ends a postseason run for the Phillies that began with promise but could not withstand the pressure of a walk-off in Dodger Stadium, an atmosphere that has long defined this rivalry.
Looking ahead: what this means for both clubs
For the Dodgers, the victory advances them to the NL Championship Series, where they will face either the Chicago Cubs or the Milwaukee Brewers. The win reinforces Los Angeles’ status as a perennial contender and a reminder that postseason baseball often hinges on a single moment—whether it’s a walk or a misplayed grounder that alters the game’s trajectory.
For the Phillies, the defeat closes another postseason chapter with the team wearing powder blue throwback uniforms, a visual that sparked nostalgia for road playoff campaigns. The loss marks the team’s third consecutive defeat in the Division Series, a difficult pattern that they will aim to reverse as they rebuild for another title chase in the coming seasons.
Credit: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
