In October, the Phillies’ pitching staff continued its impressive performance , even in the face of a 2-1 loss in Game 3. Ranger Suarez delivered another outstanding postseason start, Jeff Hoffman skillfully navigated a tight situation in a scoreless game, and Jose Alvarado efficiently covered two innings with just 15 pitches.
Unfortunately, the team faced challenges from both its least and most experienced pitchers. Rookie Orion Kerkering, who was called up for the first time on September 22, conceded the first earned run of his career in his eighth appearance (combining regular season and playoffs), resulting in the loss of a seventh-inning lead.
Meanwhile, veteran closer Craig Kimbrel struggled with his command in the ninth inning, throwing 11 of his 24 pitches as balls, walking two batters, and eventually allowing the walk-off single to Ketel Marte.
The Phillies’ offensive struggles were a major factor in their loss, as they managed to score their only run on a wild pitch. Manager Rob Thomson’s decision to bring in Kerkering with a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh came under scrutiny after the game.
Facing three right-handed hitters in Tommy Pham, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Evan Longoria, and with Hoffman and Alvarado already used, while Kimbrel was being saved for the ninth inning, Thomson’s choice of Kerkering was questioned. The other option would have been Seranthony Dominguez. Thomson explained that he anticipated the Diamondbacks would use left-handed pinch-hitters, and he preferred Kerkering’s slider against left-handed batters compared to Dominguez.
As it turned out, Arizona did indeed bring in a left-handed pinch-hitter in the form of Pavin Smith, replacing Longoria. Kerkering, however, allowed two singles and an RBI double to the only three batters he faced.
Tommy Pham and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had seen Kerkering in the previous game as well, so it might be Hoffman or Dominguez handling that situation next time if they haven’t already been used. In a short series, individual matchups gain increased significance, even with limited data. Kerkering had previously struck out both Pham and Gurriel, along with Gabriel Moreno, to secure a 10-0 win in Game 2.
Regarding Kerkering’s performance in the second inning, Thomson remarked, “Yeah, I think he could have been more selective with his slider and expanded the strike zone a bit. He just couldn’t execute a couple of pitches.” its impressive performance
Kimbrel’s troubles in the ninth inning were evident from the start. His first pitch to Gurriel, though seemingly in the strike zone, was called a ball, setting a concerning tone for the inning. Ultimately, he allowed four of the five batters he faced to reach base. Lefty Matt Strahm was warming up, poised to replace Kimbrel if Marte hadn’t walked off the D-backs with his hit.
Kimbrel’s track record in his 76 appearances as a Phillie reveals a consistent pattern. He’s given up runs in 18 of those outings, and in 13 of those 18, he either issued multiple walks, as seen in Game 3, or surrendered home runs. Opponents have rarely strung together hits against him; in fact, he hasn’t allowed more than two hits in any appearance during his time as a Phillie.