The Yankees punch their ticket to the ALCS as Gerrit Cole leads the team to a Game 4 victory over the Royals

The New York Yankees are headed to the ALCS after defeating the Kansas City Royals 3-1 in Game 4 of the ALDS on Thursday night.

It will be the Yankees' 19th trip to the ALCS, their last in 2022, which is the most ever in MLB history. And they become the first AL team to clinch their spot, as the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers will play Game 5 to determine their opponent for the pennant.

It took some time for a team to get on the field in Game 3, but in Game 4 the Yankees only needed two batters to do so.

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) scores on an RBI single from New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27, not pictured) in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals in Game 4 of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Kauffman Stadium. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

Gleyber Torres laced Royals starter Michael Wacha's first pitch of the game into left-center field and extended it into a double to get things rolling for the Bombers. Then Juan Soto bounced a ball through a hole in the right side for an RBI single to make it 1-0.

Meanwhile, Yankees star Gerrit Cole had perhaps his best start of the season at the right time for his team, as he kept the Royals' offense in check throughout the game.

He went seven innings, allowing six hits, one earned run and four strikeouts in his 87 pitches.

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The Yankees added another hit early in the fifth inning when Gleyber Torres had a crucial two-out single to right to score Alex Verdugo. Jon Berti, starting in the second game after another start at first base of this ALDS, moved Verdugo to third base after hitting a single to right side.

Then the man who ran the Yankees' offense in Game 3, Giancarlo Stanton, came through once again with an RBI single that scored Aaron Judge, who finally caught a baseball this postseason. He smashed a double to left-center field, perhaps taking a load off his shoulders.

There was a moment in this game when tempers were about to flare after Berti made a double play and stepped on his bag at first base before firing the ball to shortstop Anthony Volpe, who was hitting Maikel Garcia in the bottom of the sixth innings.

However, Garcia appeared to take exception to Volpe's high strike, while the defender's forearm also appeared to hit him in the head and neck area. Volpe patted Garcia on the shoulder, essentially saying that everything was fine and that this wasn't done on purpose.

Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) stares at New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) after hitting second during the sixth inning in game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Kauffman Stadium Base tagout had. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

But things escalated when Jazz Chisholm Jr., who has already become an enemy of Royals fans after his comments on social media and in postgame interviews, began defending Volpe with his words.

At that point, the benches became vacant as Torres attempted to push Garcia toward the dugout. Luckily nothing more physical came of it.

Kansas City tried to use this moment as fuel but failed to score a run against Cole. But three straight hits followed the infield scrum, capped by Vinnie Pasquantino's RBI double that scored Bobby Witt Jr. from first base and gave the Royals life in a 3-1 game.

But Kauffman Stadium's air was taken away when Kyle Isbel caught a Cole inside fastball that flew into right field. Everyone tried to end the game as the game would have been tied, but Soto caught the ball at the base of the right field wall, ending the inning.

From there, Clay Holmes had a quick eighth inning to relieve Cole, and Luke Weaver tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning when Judge singled for the final out in center field.

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after hitting a pop fly in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals in game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Kauffman Stadium. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

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The Yankees have some time to head home, regroup as they watch Game 5 of the Guardians-Tigers series unfold, and await their opponent for Game 1 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium on Monday.

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