The Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Philadelphia Phillies in extra innings on Thursday night in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
After the Dodgers took the first two games on the road in Philadelphia, the Phillies took Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, but that was all.
Both teams starters pitched outstanding, and the game went to extra innings tied at one. Then, in the 11th inning, the Dodgers put runners on first and third base and the Phillies' went to their bullpen for pitcher Orion Kerkering, who's been lights out all year long. However, on Thursday night, Kerkering ended the Phillies season.
Rob Thompson Backs Kerkering, Explains Decision
The Phillies had pitcher Jesus Luzardo come in to pitch the 10th inning, and he stayed out for the 11th inning, until Dodgers' third baseman Max Muncy hit a single to put runners on the corners with two outs.
Thompson decided to pull Luzardo and bring Kerkering out of the bullpen. However, the Phillies reliever walked the first batter he saw and then induced a ground ball right back to him. But, he fumbled the ball and then threw an errand throw to home plate and the game-winning run scored.
"I feel for him because he's putting it all on his shoulders," Thompson said postgame. "But we win as a team and we lose as a team."
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The Dodgers are moving on to the NLCS! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/R8GwVmAiAo
You could see the emotions on Kerkering's face as soon as the ball went passed catcher J.T. Realmuto at the plate, and in the dugout after the game, many of his teammates came over to console him.
The Phillies' reliever was outstanding during the regular season, pitching to a 3.30 ERA across 60 innings.
However, another question that arose postgame was around the decision to pull Luzardo in the first place. The Phillies' pitcher was at 30 pitches and he's used to being a starter.
"I feel for [Orion Kerkering] because he's putting it all on his shoulders. But we win as a team and we lose as a team."
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Phillies skipper Rob Thomson addresses the media following tonight's loss. pic.twitter.com/x6JvRwwjMM
"Just with the two righties, and (Jesus Luzardo) had 30 pitches on him with three days rest. I didn't want to push him too much further," Thompson said. "Going into the game, I thought about just one inning for him, really, because it's kind of his side day. But he was so efficient in the first, we decided to bring him back out for a second."
Luzardo, the lefty, had just thrown 82 pitches three days ago in Game 2 of the series, and he had already pitched longer than Thompson anticipated. We'll never know if keeping Luzardo in would have led to a different result.
Regardless, it was about the worst way possible for the Phillies' season to end. As for the Dodgers, they're headed back to the NLCS for the second straight year as they continue their quest for back-to-back World Series.