THEY'RE UP IN ERROR

Kerkering's wayward toss moves Dodgers into the NLCS

- JACK HARRIS

THE DODGERS CELEBRATE after their dramatic, series-clinching victory over the Phillies in the 11th inning on Thursday night.

Andy Pages hit a ground ball to the mound.

Orion Kerkering picked it up and threw away the Philadelphia Phillies' season.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Thursday, that's how the Dodgers secured a walk-off, series-clinching 2-1 win that sends them to the NL Championship Series.

On a throwing error from Kerkering, who initially booted the broken-bat grounder before retrieving the ball in front of the mound.

On a toss home that went sailing to the backstop, even as catcher J.T. Realmuto motioned for Kerkering to get the sure out at first base.

On a brutal, inexplicable decision from the Phillies' 24-year-old reliever, one that allowed Hyeseong Kim to score from third and pandemonium to be unleashed inside Dodger Stadium.

"Instant classic," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

"That ranks up there," third baseman Max Muncy added.

In what started as a pitchers' duel between two dominant starters, then morphed into a battle of the bullpens that stretched into extra innings, the Dodgers finally prevailed with a rally in the 11th, when they loaded the bases on singles later on a single by Max Muncy.

Kiké Hernández walked to load the bases, bringing up the struggling Andy Pages, who entered the day with an .053 playoff average and had gone hitless in four previous at-bats.