Gerrit Cole delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, guiding the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals and securing their spot in the American League Championship Series.
Cole, a six-time All-Star, limited the Royals to just one run across seven innings, scattering six hits and striking out four. After his impressive outing, he handed the game to the Yankees’ bullpen, which has been nearly flawless this postseason. Clay Holmes delivered a perfect eighth inning, while Luke Weaver sealed the win in the ninth, extending the Yankees’ scoreless streak to 15 2/3 innings in the playoffs.
With this victory, the Yankees are set to face either the Cleveland Guardians or the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS, starting Monday night at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees’ offense was bolstered by contributions from Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, and Giancarlo Stanton, who each drove in runs. This marks the fourth time in eight years the Yankees have reached the ALCS, highlighting their strong performance throughout the season, including a franchise-best 50 road wins.
On the other side, Royals pitcher Michael Wacha struggled, failing to complete five innings and allowing two runs, six hits, and a walk. The Kansas City offense has been sluggish, managing only five runs in the final three games of the series.
As the Yankees prepare for the next round, the momentum from Cole’s performance will be a crucial asset in their quest for another championship.
