Phillies’ Postseason Dreams Dashed by Orion Kerkering’s Error in 11th Inning

The Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Philadelphia Phillies in extra innings on Thursday night, advancing to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) for the second straight year. The Dodgers’ win marked the end of the Phillies’ season, a tough pill to swallow for the team.

The Game’s Turning Point

Phillies manager Rob Thomson came under scrutiny for his decision to pull starter Jesus Luzardo in the 11th inning. With Luzardo having thrown 30 pitches and facing a favorable matchup against a lefty, Thomson opted to bring in reliever Orion Kerkering to face the Dodgers’ right-handed hitters. However, Kerkering’s outing didn’t go as planned, as he walked the first batter he faced and then made an error on a ground ball, allowing the winning run to score.

Thomson Explains His Decision

In the post-game press conference, Thomson expressed empathy for Kerkering, saying, “I feel for him because he’s putting it all on his shoulders. But we win as a team and we lose as a team.” Thomson explained that he didn’t want to push Luzardo too much further, given his recent usage and the fact that he had thrown 82 pitches just three days prior.

A Season Cut Short

The loss marked a disappointing end to the Phillies’ season, despite their valiant effort against a strong Dodgers team. As for the Dodgers, they’ll look to build on their momentum as they head into the NLCS.

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Here are some FAQs based on the article:

Q: What was the outcome of Game 4 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Phillies?
A: The Dodgers won the game in 11 innings, advancing to the NLCS.

Q: Why did Phillies manager Rob Thomson pull Jesus Luzardo in the 11th inning?
A: Thomson pulled Luzardo due to concerns about pushing him too far, given his recent usage and pitch count.

Q: What was the decisive moment in the game?
A: A costly error by Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering in the 11th inning allowed the winning run to score.

Q: How did Kerkering’s outing go?
A: Kerkering walked the first batter he faced and then made an error on a ground ball, leading to the winning run scoring.

Q: What’s next for the Dodgers?
A: The Dodgers will advance to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) to compete for a spot in the World Series.

Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: The final score was not explicitly mentioned, but it was reported that the game was tied 1-1 until the Dodgers scored in the 11th inning.