Overview: Dodgers clinch in dramatic fashion
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in 11 innings on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, clinching the series and advancing toward the National League Championship Series. The game was a tense pitchers’ duel through six innings before a late surge and a decisive miscue in the 11th sealed the outcome.
Key moment: The 11th-inning miscue
With two outs and the bases loaded in the 11th, Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering fielded a soft grounder from Andy Pages and instead of throwing to first for a routine out, he bounced the throw home. The errant play loaded the bases and set the stage for the walk-off chances the Dodgers had been seeking all night. Kiké Hernández drew a walk to force in the tying run, and the Dodgers snapped their scoreless spell to claim the win when the ball trickled away from the Phillies’ defense in an unwieldy finish.
Pitching duel: A night owned by the arms
The game featured a stout pitching matchup as both teams battled to push across runs. Nick Castellanos provided the Phillies with the lone run for most of the night with a seventh-inning double to left, and the Dodgers answered with a patient sequence that loaded the bases and brought Mookie Betts to the plate in a pivotal moment against closer Jhoan Duran. Duran, typically pristine, walked Betts on six pitches, the first time he had allowed a run via a walk in his career.
Roki Sasaki and the Dodgers’ bullpen
Roki Sasaki emerged as a true weapon for Los Angeles, hurling three perfect innings after entering in relief and bringing a blazing fastball that sat comfortably at 100 mph. He opened an eighth-inning stretch that the Dodgers rode into extra frames, retiring all nine batters he faced. The rookie’s durability and velocity gave Los Angeles the bullpen depth it had hoped for when the game required late-innings resilience.
Glasnow’s October debut
Tyler Glasnow delivered a dominant six-inning outing for the Dodgers, flashing premium velocity and overpowering the Phillies lineup. His fastball reached 99 mph as he carved through the order, striking out eight. This performance provided a critical spark for a Dodgers club looking for a signature October performance from a pitcher the team acquired with postseason aspirations in mind.
Phillies’ missed opportunities and late pressure
Philadelphia’s offense, which carried momentum in Game 3, stalled against the Dodgers’ pitching in Game 4. The Phillies had chances, including a first-inning double by Kyle Schwarber and later opportunities as the Dodgers pushed toward the seventh-inning tie. Cristopher Sánchez was stiff early and couldn’t quite sustain a bullpen safety net, and the series-long struggle to sustain offense against strong Dodgers arms continued in Game 4.
Looking ahead: NLCS possibilities
With the series win, the Dodgers now await the winner of the Brewers-Cubs duel. Los Angeles is eyeing a return to the World Series as the franchise pursues back-to-back titles for the first time in 25 years. Blake Snell and Shohei Ohtani are expected to shoulder early duties for the Dodgers, while Sasaki’s emergence as a closer adds a trusted option late in close games.
Bottom line
Game 4 will be remembered for its dramatic finish and the miscue that decided the moment. The Dodgers showcased a potent combination of elite starting depth, a fearless bullpen, and timely hitting to close out a hard-fought series against a Phillies club that refused to fold.
