Philadelphia's costly error in extra innings allows Dodgers to narrowly advance to NL Championship Series

During the MLB postseason NL Division Series Game 4, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies fought through extra innings. Each team managed one run in nine innings, but in the bottom of the 11th, Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering threw wildly to home plate with two outs and the bases loaded. This error allowed the Dodgers to edge out a 2-1 win and take the series 3-1, moving on to the NL Championship Series.

Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow faced trouble right from the first inning. After striking out Trea Turner swinging, he gave up a long single to right field to Kyle Schwarber. Then, with two outs, he walked Alec Bohm, loading the bases. However, Glasnow kept his composure and struck out Brandon Marsh on just four pitches to escape the jam.

Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez was equally impressive, retiring the Dodgers in order on just seven pitches.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Dodgers got on the board with a hit from Freddie Freeman. But Tommy Edman’s deep fly ball was spectacularly caught by Max Kepler, and then Will Smith hit into a double play, ending the threat.

The pitchers traded zeros through the first five innings. In the bottom of the sixth, after one out, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández hit consecutive singles to put runners in scoring position. However, Freeman and Edman grounded out back-to-back, leaving the Dodgers unable to capitalize.

Glasnow finished six innings throwing 83 pitches, allowing two hits, issuing three walks, and striking out eight. The Dodgers then brought in Emmet Sheehan. The Phillies seized the moment, as J.T. Realmuto singled and advanced on a Dodgers first base error. Nick Castellanos followed with a single to left field, giving Philadelphia the lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Dodgers launched a counterattack. After one out, Alex Call walked and Enrique Hernández singled, putting runners on first and second. The Phillies quickly brought in closer Jhoan Duran, who induced a groundout from Andy Pages but then intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani, loading the bases. Betts drew a walk with a full count, allowing the Dodgers to tie the game with a run driven in by a walk.

In the eighth inning, the Dodgers turned to Roki Sasaki, who retired Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Alec Bohm on just eight pitches. Duran responded by striking out all three Dodgers batters he faced on nine pitches.

The game went into extra innings. In the top of the 11th, Philadelphia missed a scoring chance. In the bottom half, the Dodgers struck again. Edman singled and was replaced by pinch runner Kim Hye-seong. Max Muncy followed with a gap hit that moved the runner to third, and Enrique Hernández drew a walk to load the bases. Pages then hit a grounder to the pitcher, and Kerkering, rushing to make the play at home, threw wildly, allowing Kim to score the walk-off run.

In the end, the Dodgers narrowly won 2-1, taking the series 3-1 to advance to the NL Championship Series.

The NL Championship Series opener is scheduled for October 14 Beijing time, where the Dodgers will face the winner between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs.