Few pitchers were more valuable to the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies than Orion Kerkering. Yet, he will now intrinsically tied to how their season ended forever.
Kerkering’s devastating two-out throwing error in the 11th inning allowed Hyeseong Kim to score the series-clinching run in the Phillies’ narrow 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLDS.
The Phillies outscored the Dodgers 15-13 in the best-of-5 season but were eliminated in four games by the reigning world champions.
Kerkering was tied for the lead among all Phillies pitchers in appearances (69) and led all primary relievers in wins (8) this year.
Despite his 6.75 postseason ERA, Kerkering was solid too in the postseason, pitching to a 2.01 FIP and 0.75 WHIP in 2 2/3 innings — he pitched in every game in the four-game series.
Orion Kerkering’s 11th-Inning Error Was Preventable
Kerkering only faced two batters and didn’t even get a decision — Jesus Luzardo took the tough-luck loss after giving up an unearned run when Kim scored on the pitcher’s errant throw that sailed over catcher J.T. Realmuto’s head.
“Once the pressure got to me, I just thought there’s a little faster throw to J.T.,” Kerkering said, according to the Associated Press. “[It was a] little quicker throw than trying to cross-body it to Bryce [Harper at first]. So just a horses— throw.”
Though Kerkering may end up owning his untimely error for the rest of his life — or at least the rest of his playing career — the Phillies had ample opportunity to win the game before leaving it in the hands of a relief pitcher throwing to a base.
“I feel for him because he’s putting it all on his shoulders,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “We win as a team. We lose as a team.”
The Phillies mustered just one run and four hits over 41 plate appearances Thursday. They were 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, with the outfielder Nick Castellanos driving in the lone run on a seventh-inning, one-out ice-breaking double.
Yet, the Phillies tried to hold on for dear life over the final nine outs — with Thomson going straight from starter Cristopher Sanchez to closer Jhoan Duran, potentially for the final nine outs.
Duran did the best he could, considering he entered with first and second and none out, but still gave up the lead when he walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded on a 3-2 count.
The Phillies went 0 for 9 against Dodgers reliver Roki Sasaki and did not have a hit after Castellanos’ double over the final four innings. They only got one plate appearance with a runner in scoring position in that span, and severely compromised outfielder Harrison Bader struck out to end their half of the 11th inning.
“They held us at bay for eight innings, and we just couldn’t push through there at the end,” Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber said.
The Phillies Picked Up Orion Kerkering
Kerkering felt terrible after his error, yet Thomson noted how his team supported 24-year-old through his toughest moment — in more evidence why the Phillies won 96 games in the regular season.
“That tells you about what they’re made of,” Thomson said. “They win as a team; they lose as a team. They support each other. As bad as the feel [is], it’s good to see them be there for each other.”
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