Philadelphia’s playoff run came to a heartbreaking close Thursday night as the Phillies fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in 11 innings, eliminated from the National League Division Series in a game decided by a costly defensive mistake rather than a lack of offense. The loss ended a season that began with high hopes of bouncing back from the previous year’s early playoff exit.

The Phillies had forced the decisive Game 4 the night before with an 8-2 blowout win in Los Angeles, powered by two home runs from Kyle Schwarber. But Thursday’s rematch turned into a tense pitchers’ duel that stretched into extra innings, with both teams managing just one run apiece through the first ten frames.

The turning point came in the bottom of the 11th, when Dodgers pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim represented the winning run with the bases loaded and two outs. Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering fielded a comebacker off the bat of Andy Pages but, instead of simply flipping the ball to first base for the easy final out, threw wildly past catcher J.T. Realmuto — allowing Kim to score and ending Philadelphia’s season on the spot.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson consoled Kerkering in the dugout afterward, while teammates rallied around the 24-year-old reliever in the clubhouse. The loss advances the Dodgers to the NL Championship Series for the second consecutive year, while the Phillies head into the offseason still searching for their first NLCS berth since 2023.