The Phillies suffered an 11-inning 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, putting an early end to the Phillies’ postseason run.
From tricky shadows to a fielding error to end the game, here are some of the best and worst moments from the Game 4 broadcast …
TBS broadcaster Brian Anderson asked analyst and former Phillie Jeff Francoeur about the challenges both teams faced heading into Game 4. Francoeur said one of the toughest challenges for both teams was something out of their control: the shadows.
“In about another 20 minutes you’re going to see those shadows by the L.A. sign start to creep into the batter’s box and that’s where it’s going to get tricky,” Francoeur said. “Always tough as an outfielder here on high fly balls with this sky being so blue. If there’s a ball coming to you and you don’t see it, you have to let that guy know next to you right away so he can come sprinting over.”
The shadows really started to become a problem in the third inning as they crept across the infield, covering the batter’s box on the left and right side of the plate.
“Shadows are creeping,” Anderson said. “That’s going to be the story for the next couple of hours here as these hitters try to adjust.”
Francoeur added: “As good as [Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez’s] slider is at times too, these shadows, the way the ball is coming out right now, his two pitches, he can just piggyback both of them.”
As the batters battled with the shadows, the outfielders battled a bright sun. But that was no match for Phillies’ outfielder Max Kepler. The 32-year-old went airborne with a diving catch in left center in the second inning to rob Tommy Edman of a hit.
“That ball, usually if it’s coming that way, it’s hooking to you,” Francoeur said. “That ball was going away from Kepler. And let me tell you, looking into this bright sky in the stands over here, that’s not an easy play.”
The Phillies scored first in the seventh inning, thanks to an RBI double from Nick Castellanos.
“Castellanos, 2-for-14 this postseason but both hits have been huge doubles,” Francoeur said. “Driving in Game 2 and this one right here to get the Phillies a 1-0 lead.”
After taking the first lead of the game, Dodgers’ fans morale lowered.
“The Phillies have silenced this crowd,” Anderson said.
That didn’t last long.
Extra innings with Anderson and Francoeur
With the score tied at 1 after nine innings, Game 4 made its way to extra innings. And fans didn’t have to worry about the broadcast crew getting tired. Anderson and Francoeur had experience working long nights.
“You’ve come to the right spot for your extra innings announcers,” Anderson said. “[We] covered an 18-inning extra inning game a few years ago in Seattle. I will tell you the theme in that game, and it continues on, there are a lot of hitters trying to hit the long ball.”
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto leaves the field as Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (right) celebrates after the final score in the 11th inning.
Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The Phillies leave the field after the eleventh inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Dodgers celebrate a win over the Phillies after the eleventh inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Dodgers Hyeseong Kim scores the game winning run during the eleventh inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Phillies Alec Bohm reacts after the final score in the eleventh inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Phillies Edmundo Sosa consoles Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering after a loss to the Dodgers after eleven innings. Dodgers win 2-1. Phillies Weston Wilson (left) watches as Dodgers celebrate.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Dodgers Max Muncy celebrates as Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering's season is over after eleven innings.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Dodgers Enrique Hernández and Andy Pages celebrate a 2-1 win over the Phillies after eleven innings.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Dodgers Enrique Hernández and Andy Pages celebrate a 2-1 over the Phillies after eleven innings.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies manager Rob Thomson leaves the dugout after a loss to the Dodgers in the eleventh inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies shortstop Trea Turner can’t get to the ball as Dodgers Max Muncy hit a single during the eleventh inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages makes the catch on the warning track during the eleventh inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Phillies Bryce Harper (center) in the dugout as teammates watch the ninth inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Phillies J.T. Realmuto strikes out during the ninth inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Phillies Max Kepler reacts popping out to end the ninth inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran reacts after striking out Dodgers catcher Will Smith to end the eighth inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Dodgers first baseman Enrique Hernández fields Phillies Bryce Harper’s popup as Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages gets close to colliding with his teammate during the eighth inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Dodgers first baseman Enrique Hernández fields Phillies Bryce Harper’s popup as Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages gets close to colliding with his teammate during the eighth inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran reacts after walking in a run during the seventh inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is intentionally walked by Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran during the seventh inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez is taken off of the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies shortstop Trea Turner fields Dodgers Will Smith and threw him out during the seventh inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies Nick Castellanos celebrates an RBI double during the seventh inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Dodgers Teoscar Hernández is forced out by Phillies shortstop Trea Turner during the sixth inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Phillies Max Kepler celebrates scoring during the seventh inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts forces out Phillies J.T. Realmuto to advance left fielder Max Kepler during the seventh inning. Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan gets an error on the play.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies shortstop Trea Turner throws the ball to first base forcing out Dodgers Alex Call during the third inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws during the sixth inning.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Phillies Alec Bohm hits a single during the sixth inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh strikes out looking to end the sixth inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies shortstop Trea Turner throws the ball to first base forcing out Dodgers Alex Call during the third inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott throws to first to turn a double play to end the second inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott throws to first to turn a double play to end the second inning. Dodgers Freddie Freeman is out at second base.Read moreJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Phillies left fielder Max Kepler catches Dodgers Tommy Edman line drive during the second inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies Brandon Marsh strikes out swinging to end the first inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies Kyle Schwarber hits a lead-off double during the first inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
They called the 18-inning postseason game between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners in 2022 as part of the TBS broadcast team.
‘It was a classic’
Thursday’s game didn’t go to 18 innings. In the 11th, Andy Pages hit the ball toward Orion Kerkering, who made a costly error — throwing the ball wide of home plate, allowing Hyeseong Kim to score and giving the Dodgers a 2-1 victory.
“This game ends in the cruelest way for the Phillies,” Anderson said. “It was a classic game. It had all the makeup of one of those classics. And you just want to wrap your arms around Orion Kerkering.
“I mean, that is something he will think about for a long, long time. He’s a great young pitcher and you hope he comes back and has a great long career. He’s a guy you’re going to root for, for the rest of his career after that.”
Francoeur responded: “You hate that the game ended this way. It was played so well. Kerkering right there, plenty of time to go to first. I mean plenty of time to go to first, even though he bobbled it. And just kind of in the moment panicked. Look at it right there, even if he threw a good one, he’s safe.”
