LA Dodgers advance after Phillies blunder

Reliever gifts ticket, Happ's blast lift Cubs

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Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate after beating the Philadelphia Phillies to advance to the National League Championship Series.

(REUTERS)

The Los Angeles Dodgers scored a thrilling 2-1 walkoff victory in extra innings to eliminate the Philadelphia Phillies from the Major League Baseball playoffs on Thursday and stay on course for back-to-back World Series crowns.

Cuban outfielder Andy Pages helped set up the bases-loaded winning run, which scored when Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering bungled what should have been an innings-ending play to seal a 3-1 series victory for the reigning MLB champions.

The win sends the Dodgers into a best-of-seven National League Championship Series against either the Milwaukee Brewers or Chicago Cubs with a World Series berth on the line.

The Cubs beat the top-seeded Brewers 6-0 in Chicago to force a decisive game five in their series today in Milwaukee.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called his team's victory "an instant classic," although he was full of sympathy for Phillies pitcher Kerkering.

"It's brutal," Roberts said. "You definitely feel for a player."