Postseason goodbyes are never easy. But the way the Philadelphia Phillies ended their season, it can’t be more brutal.

After dropping their first two games at home, the Phillies responded with a massive 8-2 victory in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium with the help of Kyle Schwarber’s two home runs. And for Game 4, they had momentum as Manager Rob Thomson’s bold pitching strategy of using Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez worked spectacularly last night. They were ready for a dogfight.

Until the last out at the bottom of the 11th inning, the two teams were 1-1. Then, with two outs, Thomson relieved Jesus Luzardo with young reliever Orion Kerkering. The 24-year-old allowed Enrique Hernandez to walk, loading the bases for the next at bat, Andy Pages. What happened next will haunt Philadelphia and Kerkering for the coming days.

Kerkering induced a weak, broken-bat grounder right back to him, and instead of throwing first for the easy out, he rushed a wild throw home, and the ball sailed past the catcher J. T. Realmuto. The Dodgers scored their winning score. And for the first time in MLB history, a postseason series had ended on a walk-off error.

When asked about the incident in a post-game press conference, Rob Thomson said, “Just to keep his head up. You know, he just got caught up in the moment a little bit. Coming down the stretch here, he pitched so well for us, and I feel for him because he’s putting it all on his shoulders, but we win as a team and we lose as a team.” And when asked about the team immediately surrounding Kerkering, Thomson had an emotional response.

“That’s what…tells you about what they’re made of, you know. Like I said, they win as a team and they lose as a team, they support each other, feel as bad as you feel, it’s good to see them be there for each other.”

Thomson also explained why he took out reliever Jesús Luzardo, who had been pitching well.

“Jesús had 30 pitches on him with three days’ rest. I didn’t…want to push him too much further.”

Even the opposing manager, Dave Roberts, expressed empathy for Kerkering.

“It’s brutal,” Roberts remarked. “Obviously, they played great defense tonight. It’s one of those things that it’s a PFP, a pitcher’s fielding practice. He’s done it a thousand times. And right there, he was so focused, I’m sure, on just getting the hitter and just sort of forgot the outs and the situation. Kerkering is a stud. And you definitely feel for a player.”

What’s next for the Phillies?

The manager’s seat often becomes the primary target when the season ends. And it is the same in Philadelphia.

Despite his regular-season success, manager Rob Thompson has no achievements from the postseason to show in his resume. That’s why Ken Rosenthal predicted before the last game, “I don’t know that it [Postseason knockout] will lead to change. In my view, Rob Thomson is the perfect manager for that team, but Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations, could decide — I’m just speaking hypothetically — ‘You know what? We haven’t gotten there with this manager, let’s try another one.'”

But no conclusion yet, as the real questions lie with the roster.

Three franchise pillars—Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suárez—are now free agents. It will be nearly impossible to afford all three, so it will be exciting to see what the club decides.

Meanwhile, for the Dodgers, the Thursday win will grant them a few extra days of rest as the NLCS will begin on Monday against the winner of the Brewers-Cubs series.

Yet the final moment of the Phillies’ season will be Orion Kerkering’s devastating error. But from Rob Thomson’s message, it’s clear that he refused to let one mistake define a 96-win season.