The New York Yankees have entered the American League Championship Series after defeating the Kansas City Royals in Game 4 of the Division Series with a final score of three runs to one.
In a packed house at Kauffman Stadium, the Yankees were able to emerge victorious over the Royals thanks to timely hitting and a great start by their starter Gerrit Cole.
The Yankees return to the ALCS for the second time in three seasons, preparing to host either the Guardians or the Tigers in a best-of-seven series beginning Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Popping bottles in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, the Yankees celebrated their third trip to the ALCS under manager Aaron Boone, who previously led them to that round in 2019 and 2022, when they faced the Astros on both occasions.
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The Yankees’s first run came in the first inning after Venezuelan Gleyber Torres opened the game with a double, he was brought home on a single by Dominican Juan Soto.
Later in the fifth inning, Gleyber Torres himself connected his second hit of the game, driving in Mexican Alex Verdugo from second base with the visitor’s second base.
And in the sixth inning, Giancarlo Stanton hit another home run to score Aaron Judge, who had reached second base after a double.
Bobby Witt Jr. scored the go-ahead run for the Royals, driving in a double to left by designated hitter Vinnie Pasquantino.
From the mound, Gerrit Cole pitched seven full innings, allowing six hits, one run, no walks, and striking out four opponents to earn the win.
The right-hander lowered his ERA to 3.00, adding his first win and 11th career playoff win, tying Greg Maddux and Curt Schilling for the seventh-most in all-time in these instances.
Luke Weaver earned the save, retiring the ninth inning with a quick dig.
Now Aaron Boone’s team awaits its rival from Saturday’s game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.
Another relevant news from the Yankees’s victory over the Royals is that, for the first time in 24 years, New York will have its two MLB teams fighting in the run-up to the World Series.
The last time that happened was in the 2000 season. The Mets reached the National League Championship Series and the Yankees reached the American League Championship Series. Both won and met in the Fall Classic, with the Yankees winning.
Yankees and Royals benches empty
Tensions flared between the Yankees and Royals after a play at second base in the sixth inning.
Venezuelan Maikel Garcia slid into the bag on a 3-6 double play started by Jon Berti, who stepped on first base and then threw the ball to shortstop Anthony Volpe.
Garcia appeared to be annoyed with the way Volpe touched him, and the Yankees shortstop slapped him on the back as he headed to the dugout. That caused Garcia to look back as he walked off the field, and then third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said something to him.
The visitors consolidated their lead in the sixth episode when with the inside box playing midway through, Giancarlo Stanton fired an unstoppable midfielder, who couldn’t stop torpedoing Bobby Witt Jr., allowing Aaron Judge to score the third run.
The Royals said they were present in the bottom of that sixth inning when after two outs, Vinnie Pasquantino, who was blank in the series, hit Cole’s double to the left-hander that towed Witt Jr.
After Cole left the Lomita, Clay Holmes threw the eighth chapter without difficulty to prepare the table for Luke Weaver (3), who retired the three batters he faced, with two punches, to keep the save for the New Yorkers.
