Overview

• With two outs in the 11th and the bases loaded, Andy Pages’ comebacker was bobbled by Orion Kerkering, whose rushed throw sailed past J.T. Realmuto as Hyeseong Kim scored for a 2-1 win and a 3-1 series clinch.
• Kerkering stood visibly distraught as Nick Castellanos sprinted in from right field to console him, joined by Realmuto and manager Rob Thomson offering encouragement.
• Pages later said he thought, in the moment, that Kerkering “threw the game away,” while Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas expressed empathy, calling such mistakes part of baseball.
• Kerkering’s error is being weighed against a strong season noted in coverage at a 3.30 ERA with 65 strikeouts over 60 innings and four saves, with even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praising his year.
• A new round of opinion surfaced with The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, cited by The Sporting News, raising whether Philadelphia should consider trading Kerkering, as fans and letter-writers debated blame and long-term impact.