The Dodgers Eliminate the Phillies in a Dramatic Game 4
In a high-tension encounter that extended to the eleventh inning, the Los Angeles Dodgers managed to prevail over the Philadelphia Phillies with a final score of 2-1, securing their place in the National League Championship Series. The victory, marked by a crucial error in the closing of the game, put an end to the aspirations of the Phillies, who aspired to conquer the title. The young Phillies reliever, Orion Kerkering, found himself in the center of the drama with the bases loaded and two outs. A slow ground ball from Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages bounced off his foot, generating a chaotic situation. Kerkering, in a moment of pressure, made an imprecise throw that went towards the protective zone, allowing Hyeseong Kim to score the winning run.The game was described as a “heavyweight fight” by Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia, reflecting the intensity of the entire series. The two teams, with rosters packed with talent, starred in a stellar pitching duel. In the fourth game, Cristopher Sanchez of the Phillies held the Dodgers’ batters at bay for six innings, but Tyler Glasnow matched the performance, allowing only five runners on base. Glasnow, in his first playoff start for his home team, dominated one of the best lineups in the sport. After Glasnow left the game due to cramps, Nick Castellanos drove in the first run for the Phillies. However, the Dodgers responded, tying the game with a bases-loaded walk by Jhoan Duran, the Phillies’ closer. Roki Sasaki, the Japanese pitching sensation, had a dominant performance from the bullpen for the Dodgers, retiring nine consecutive batters. Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager, praised Sasaki’s performance as “one of the best appearances of all time from the bullpen”. In the eleventh inning, a single by Tommy Edman and a walk to Enrique Hernandez set the stage for Andy Pages. Pages, who had struggled in the playoffs, hit a ground ball that, due to an error by Kerkering, allowed the Dodgers to score the winning run. This error marked the eleventh time a walk-off run has been scored in the playoffs due to an error, and the second time it has happened in the deciding game. The Phillies were eliminated in this way for the fourth time in franchise history. The Dodgers, for their part, secured their third playoff series victory with a walk-off and advance to face the winner between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs.Once the pressure got to me, I thought it was quicker to throw to J.T., a slightly quicker throw than trying to cross the body to Bryce. Just a crap throw…”.
Orion Kerkering
