Listen to Fox News Articles: Philadelphia Phillies’ Orion Kerkering Reflects on NLDS Heartbreak
Philadelphia Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering opened up about his costly mistake during the team’s 2-1 loss in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. This defeat sent the Dodgers on to the National League Championship Series.
In a tense bottom of the 11th inning, with the score tied at 1-1, Kerkering faced a high-pressure situation: the bases were loaded and two outs were on the board. Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages hit a ground ball directly back to Kerkering. Unfortunately, he misplayed the ball, which led to a chaotic scramble. His subsequent throw to home plate was off-target, allowing the winning run to score.
If Kerkering had taken a moment to assess the situation, he would have noticed catcher J.T. Realmuto signaling for a throw to first base. Instead of securing the final out, Kerkering opted for the risky throw to home, a decision he later regretted.
After the game, Kerkering admitted that the pressure had played a role in his mistake. "The ball hit off my foot, and once that pressure got to me, I thought a quicker throw to J.T. would be better than trying to cross-body it to Bryce at first base," he explained to reporters.
This loss marked a tough night for Philadelphia sports, as it was the city’s first ‘triple loss’ in over four decades.
Kerkering, reflecting on the moment, said, "It was just a bad throw." In the heat of the moment, he didn’t hear his teammates urging him to throw to first base. However, after the game, his teammates provided him with support. "Just keep your head up," he recalled them saying. "It’s an honest mistake. It’s baseball. Things happen. Keep your head up; you’ll be good for a long time."
The 24-year-old pitcher expressed gratitude for his teammates’ encouragement, saying, "It means a lot. It shows they care. This really sucks right now, but I hope to push through this."
Despite the heartbreaking end to the season, Kerkering had an impressive year, appearing in 69 games with an 8-4 record, a 3.30 ERA, and four saves.
Looking ahead, the NLCS is set to begin on Monday. The Dodgers will face the winner of the deciding NLDS Game 5 between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers, scheduled for Saturday.
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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.
