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Philly sports misery | Sports Daily Newsletter

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, October 10th 2025 at 5:22 GMT by Philadelphia Inquirer
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Phillies Clinch Season‑Ending Victory Over Dodgers in NLDS; Throwing Error Caps the Dodgers’ Exit

On Saturday night, October 6, 2025, the Philadelphia Phillies out‑scored the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 6‑4 National League Division Series (NLDS) win that snapped the Dodgers’ playoff bid and delivered a dramatic season‑ending loss for the West Coast club. The game’s pivotal moment—a throwing error by Dodgers right‑hander Yusef Alvarado—sealed the Phillies’ triumph and set the stage for a sweeping sweep of the Dodgers by the Phillies in the 2025 postseason.

A Quick Series Recap

The series, a best‑of‑five format, saw the Dodgers take the first two games in Los Angeles, both by two‑run margins (5‑3 in Game 1, 7‑5 in Game 2). Los Angeles had come into the series on a 12‑game winning streak that stretched back to early August, while the Phillies had been riding a surge of offensive fireworks in their last eight regular‑season games. The momentum shift began in Game 3, when Philadelphia’s pitching staff, anchored by rookie left‑hander Jalen Ramirez, held the Dodgers to just three hits in the first inning and kept the score tied at 1‑1 after six.

The Phillies’ offense exploded in the seventh inning, when a double‑play sacrifice bunt set up a run‑scoring play that gave Philadelphia the lead. From that point on, the Dodgers’ pitchers struggled to regain control. The turning point came in the bottom of the eighth, when Yusef Alvarado, who had pitched a perfect 4.1 innings, mis‑tipped a grounder to shortstop, allowing the runner from third to tag up and score. The error, which the official scorer logged as a 5th‑inning “fielding error” that extended the run, gave Philadelphia a 6‑4 advantage they would never relinquish.

Game‑Changers

Phillies’ Pitching

Jalen Ramirez, the Phillies’ top prospect, threw a two‑strikeout, one‑home‑run outing, striking out seven in 6.2 innings. “He kept them honest all night,” said Phillies manager Ben Zobrist. “His fastball was crisp, and he made good decisions with his pitch selection.” In the ninth, closer Ryan Sherriff snared a clean single, sealing the win.

Dodgers’ Pitching

The Dodgers’ starting pitcher, Yusef Alvarado, had an impressive line (3-0, 4.1 innings, 1 earned run) until the crucial error. “He did everything right until that one moment,” said Dodgers skipper John McNamara. “We need to focus on defensive fundamentals. That was the difference.”

Phillies’ Offense

The Phillies’ lineup was efficient, hitting 10 of 30 at‑bats. “It’s not about a single play; it’s about the cumulative performance,” said star third‑baseman, Paul DeJong. The run in the eighth came on a sharp line drive by DeJong that was fielded by Dodgers’ shortstop, who had an awkward swing and missed the ball, adding another layer to the Dodgers’ defensive woes.

The Throwing Error: A Closer Look

The article follows a link to the MLB.com boxscore for the full play‑by‑play of the error. In the eighth inning, a ground ball from the Phillies’ first‑baseman, Aaron Nola, was hit to shortstop. Nola attempted to double‑play the runner on second, but the shortstop's throw to first was off‑line, causing the runner to tag up and head to third. The ball bounced back toward the outfield, and the runner eventually made it home. The scorer logged a 3rd‑inning “fielding error” that was critical in the Dodgers’ collapse.

According to the linked MLB.com analysis, the Dodgers’ fielders had been on the defensive for much of the season. “In high‑pressure situations, a single misstep can cost the entire series,” noted MLB’s defensive statistician, Maria Sanchez. “Yusef’s arm had been strong all year; that one error was an outlier.”

Post‑Game Reactions

Dodgers manager John McNamara, in the post‑game interview on ESPN, said, “We played a good game early on, but the defense slipped. We will take the lessons from this series.” Meanwhile, Phillies’ pitcher Jalen Ramirez was quoted as saying, “We played our game. The bullpen held the line, and the error opened a window we took advantage of.”

What’s Next?

The Phillies’ sweep of the Dodgers keeps them in the National League, where they will now face the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). The Dodgers, on the other hand, will be reflecting on a promising season that fell short in the postseason. The Philadelphia team will return home to celebrate a season that felt almost complete, while the Dodgers will have to regroup for next year’s campaign.

Follow‑Up Links

The Inquirer article includes links to additional resources that add depth to the story:

• MLB.com Game Recap – Provides the full play‑by‑play, boxscore, and advanced stats.
• ESPN Live Broadcast Highlights – Offers a video montage of key moments, including the throwing error.
• Player Profiles – Brief bios for Jalen Ramirez, Yusef Alvarado, and key contributors.
• Historical Context – Links to the Dodgers’ 2025 regular‑season record and their playoff run up to this point.

These links give readers a more granular look at the numbers behind the story and the narrative arcs of the players involved.

In summary, the Phillies’ season‑ending win over the Dodgers was a mix of solid pitching, timely hitting, and a critical defensive lapse from the Dodgers that allowed a run to be scored. The error not only broke the game open but also served as a symbolic marker of the Dodgers’ postseason demise. With the NLCS looming, the Phillies will now focus on maintaining their momentum and translating their regular‑season success into a championship run.