Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering (50) in the dugout after the final out as they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the NLDS during the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Phillies eliminated from NLDS with crushing walk-off error

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Oct 10, 2025 2:05 PM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the NLCS thanks to a 2-1 extra-innings win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the NLDS on Thursday. It was not the type of dramatic walk-off win that usually gets seen on highlight reels.

The Dodgers got the win thanks to an unfortunate throwing error by Phillies relief pitcher Orion Kerkering, throwing the ball away while trying to get a force out at home plate.

It all unfolded in the bottom of the 11th inning when the Dodgers' Andy Pages hit a come-backer to the mound with the bases loaded that Kerkering knocked down. After picking up the ball, Kerkering tried to get the force out at home but accidentally threw the ball well over the head of catcher J.T. Realmuto, allowing Hyeseong Kim to score the winning run.

Here is a look at the play:

THE @DODGERS WALK IT OFF AND ARE #NLCS BOUND! pic.twitter.com/7GKwsscWkZ
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2025

Phillies needed just one out to keep the game going

The unfortunate thing about that play for the Phillies, other than the result of course, is that Kerkering probably had more time than he realized, not only to get the out at home but also the potential out at first base. He just needed one of them to keep their season going for another inning.

Now, the Phillies have an entire offseason to ponder how they ended up losing this series, not only with this result in Game 4 where their lineup wasted a stellar Cristopher Sanchez start, but also the first game where they let an early lead slip away, as well as the way they squandered a potential game-tying opportunity in Game 2 of the series.

The chances were there. They just let them get away.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

More must-reads: