Yankees 3-1 Royals: Bombers in ALCS with 21-year on-road peak

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New York Yankees 3-1 Kansas City Royals

Gerrit Cole delivered when it mattered most, pitching seven dominant innings to lead the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night, clinching the AL Division Series and sending the Bronx Bombers to their fourth ALCS in eight years.

In doing so, the Yankees also reached a milestone by winning 50 games on the road this season — their most in over two decades.

Gerrit Cole’s postseason resurgence fuels Yankees’ ALCS push

Cole, who bounced back from a rough Game 1 outing, allowed just one run on six hits, striking out four without walking a batter. His biggest test came in the seventh inning when Kyle Isbel’s deep drive to right field was caught at the wall by Juan Soto, preserving a 3-1 lead and keeping the Royals at bay.

The Yankees’ offense struck early, with Soto delivering an RBI single in the first inning and Gleyber Torres adding another run in the fifth. Giancarlo Stanton, who had been clutch throughout the series, provided an insurance run with a hard-hit RBI single in the sixth.

New York’s bullpen, which has been stellar all postseason, continued its dominance. Clay Holmes took care of the eighth inning, and Luke Weaver closed out the ninth to secure the series win. Yankees relievers have now allowed just one run over 15 2/3 innings this postseason.

Tensions briefly flared in the sixth inning when a hard tag by Anthony Volpe on Maikel Garcia led to both benches clearing. Cooler heads prevailed, and the Yankees maintained control, with Cole avoiding further damage.

Roster

Up next

With the victory, the Yankees await the winner of the ALDS between Cleveland and Detroit. Game 1 of the ALCS is set for Monday night at Yankee Stadium, where the Yankees will look to take the next step toward their first World Series appearance since 2009.

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