The Dodgers’ unforgettable walk-off victory over the Phillies in Game 4 of the National League Division Series wasn’t just a win—it was a season-defining moment filled with drama, tension, and unforgettable errors. But here’s where it gets controversial: the entire outcome hinged on a costly mistake by Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering, whose throwing error in the 11th inning literally threw Philadelphia’s postseason hopes away and catapulted the Dodgers into the National League Championship Series.
Picture this: the bases were loaded late in extras, the score incredibly tight at 1-1. Andy Pages stepped up and hit a broken-bat grounder right back toward Kerkering on the mound. Kerkering fumbled the ball at first, then made a rushed attempt to throw home instead of first base as catcher J.T. Realmuto instructed. The throw wildly missed Realmuto’s glove, sailing past the backstop. This blunder allowed Hyeseong Kim to sprint home and ignite a wave of celebration that erupted throughout Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described it as an "instant classic," while third baseman Max Muncy remarked it was a moment that ranked high among postseason thrills. What started as a tight pitchers’ duel turned into an exhausting bullpen battle stretching into extra innings—until the Dodgers finally seized the opportunity.
Earlier in the inning, singles by Tommy Edman and Muncy loaded the bases, followed by a two-out walk to Kiké Hernández. When Pages came up, Kerkering threw a fastball that Pages swung through, only to deliver a broken-bat dribbler next. Kerkering’s hesitation and poor decision to attempt a throw home rather than first base proved disastrous.
Pages reflected postgame that he initially expected the ball to be thrown to first base but realized the game was over when he saw the toss heading home. Hernández, running to second base at the time, described the electric atmosphere as the crowd exploded in joy.
This game had tension written all over it from the start. Both starting pitchers—Tyler Glasnow for the Dodgers and Cristopher Sánchez for the Phillies—dominated early on, keeping the opposing teams off the scoreboard for six innings each. The seventh inning finally broke the stalemate, with both teams scoring a run after the starters gave way to the bullpens.
In a key moment, Dodgers manager Roberts pulled Glasnow after 83 pitches with the middle of the Phillies order coming up—an aggressive yet calculated decision given Glasnow’s limited workload in recent weeks. The reliever Emmet Sheehan replaced him but immediately ran into trouble, allowing a single, then committing a costly error on a grounder that advanced a runner and set the stage for Nick Castellanos’ go-ahead double.
Despite falling behind, the Dodgers responded swiftly, putting runs on the board to tie the game. Phillies manager Rob Thomson made the bold move to bring in closer Jhoan Durán for an extended save effort, but he handed the Dodgers the chance to rally again by walking Mookie Betts with the bases loaded.
From that point, the tense duel became a bullpen epic, with Roki Sasaki delivering three perfect innings of relief for the Dodgers, and Phillies’ bullpen holding steady until the ill-fated 11th inning.
Ultimately, the Dodgers’ patience paid off. In the final frame before Pages’ decisive hit, Kim was brought in to pinch-run and hustled from first to third base on Muncy’s single—showcasing the Dodgers’ aggressive base running strategy. Then when Hernández drew a walk to reload the bases, Kerkering’s fateful pitch set the stage for a night Phillies fans would rather forget.
The Dodgers are now one step closer to defending their World Series crown, but this game is a stark reminder of how a single moment, a single choice, can change the course of a team’s destiny. What do you think—was Kerkering’s decision a mental lapse, or a result of pressure overwhelming him? Could this be the kind of split-second error that defines a player’s career? Share your thoughts below and let’s debate this unforgettable, heartbreaking finish.
