Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Baseball fans everywhere were left stunned when Philadelphia Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering inexplicably turned a rather routine play into a series-ending blunder on Thursday. While his costly mistake wasn’t the only reason the Phillies were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers, it will be the one that everyone remembers. After all, it occurred with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning and put an end to a Phillies season that was filled with high hopes.
Why Orion Kerkering decided to make the ill-advised throw home, despite Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto clearly pointing to first base and batter Andy Pages barely halfway down the line, was a question on the minds of many following the game.
That is an incredibly sad way to end the series. JT Realmuto was pointing to first base. pic.twitter.com/T2Acxbashz
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 10, 2025
Orion Kerkering addressed what happened on the play
To his credit, after the game, Orion Kerkering stood there in his locker and faced the enormity of his blunder head on, answering questions from the media.
“Just hit off my foot, just kind of, once that pressure got to me just thought it was a faster throw to J.T., a little quicker thrown than trying to cross-body it to Bryce (Harper),” Kerkering said. “So, just a horse s— throw.”
When asked what his teammates said to him after the error, Kerkering replied, “Just keep your head up. Honest mistake. It’s baseball. S— happens. Just keep your head up, you’ll be good for a long time to come. It’s not my fault. Just, had opportunities to score. Just keep your head up.”
What Phillies manager Rob Thomson had to say about the mistake
Phillies manager Rob Thomson was also asked what he told Orion Kerkering after the game. He said pretty much the same thing.
“Just keep his head up,” Thomson said he told Kerkering. “He just got caught up in the moment a little bit. Coming down the stretch, he pitched so well for us. I feel for him because he’s putting it all on his shoulders. But we win as a team and we lose as a team.”
One of several players who tried to console Orion Kerkering after making just the second walk-off error to ever end a MLB postseason series, right fielder Nick Castellanos, explained why he sprinted in from the outfield and went straight to the pitcher.
THE @DODGERS WALK IT OFF AND ARE #NLCS BOUND! pic.twitter.com/7GKwsscWkZ
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2025
“That’s second nature. That’s instinct,” Castellanos said. “I understand what he’s feeling. Not the exact emotions, but I can see them. I didn’t even have to think twice about it, that’s where I needed to run to.”
He added, “I just told him to keep his head up. And I wanted to be next to him while he walked off the field, just so he knows he’s not alone in that moment.”
Kerkering’s error wasn’t the only reason the Phillies lost
Of course, Orion Kerkering may not have been in that situation had umpire Mark Wegner not missed a strike call in the seventh inning – a strike call he reportedly apologized to Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez for making.
“When you’re facing elimination, a single bad at-bat, they all count,” Trea Turner said after the game. “They all feel very big. Who knows what happens if you have a single here or there, get a walk here or there. Who knows what happens? So I think we all feel that. I know Kyle (Schwarber) does. I know Bryce (Harper) does. We want to be that guy. We want to be the person up there in those situations. And we didn’t get it done.”