After closing out the Royals with a 3-1 victory in Kansas City, the New York Yankees officially advanced to the American League Championship series. Stunning performances from the team’s all-stars helped the Yanks tremendously in their battle with the Royals, advancing the storied franchise to their 19th ALCS.
“This core, this group that we have, it’s something special,” said team captain Aaron Judge after the game.
Putting together a combination of incredible offensive and defensive play, the Yankees left no room for error in their closeout away game.
Star right fielder Juan Soto got things going early for the team, notching an RBI single in the first inning to quickly take a 1-0 lead. Second baseman Gleyber Torres quickly followed up with a scoring blast of his own, driving a ball into right center field to bring in Alex Verdugo for the RBI single at the top of the fifth. The next inning would see the last of the Yankees’ three runs scored, thanks to a line drive up the middle from Stanton to bring in Aaron Judge. The team’s lead managed to last the entirety of the ball game, as the Royals failed to even up the score.
Calling upon their ace to seal the deal, Gerrit Cole pitched a masterful performance against a talented Royals club. Going seven innings and only allowing one earned run on six hits, the pitcher once again proved why he is regarded as one of the best in all of baseball. His four-seam fastball and knuckle curve continued to frustrate hitters, as Cole painted the batter’s box with ease.
“It’s what you dream about as a kid,” Cole said in his post-game interview. “You know going out there, living and dying by every pitch it’s great.”
Leaving everything he had on the mound, Cole found himself handing the ball off to relievers Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver to end the game. Both combining for two innings, zero hits, zero runs and three strikeouts, the Yankees closers managed to once again get the best of the Royals’ talented hitters.
“Awesome, what more can you say about them,” Yankee manager Aaron Boone said immediately after the match. “They were outstanding all series and again tonight.”
The Yankees will now look to take on the Cleveland Guardians in game one of the ALCS at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Yankee Stadium.
