KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gerrit Cole pitched like a postseason ace Thursday night, holding the fifth-seeded Kansas City Royals to a single run over seven innings and sending the top-seeded New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory that put them back in the American League Championship Series for the second time in three years.
Cole, a six-time MLB All-Star, scattered six hits and struck out four batters before handing the ball to the New York bullpen, which dominated a tense AL Division Series. Clay Holmes tossed a perfect eighth inning, and Luke Weaver breezed through the ninth, extending the scoreless streak by Yankees relievers to 15 2/3 innings this postseason.
Having wrapped up this best-of-five ALDS in four games, New York will play in the best-of-seven ALCS starting Monday night at Yankee Stadium while seeking the storied franchise’s 41st pennant but first since 2009.
“Proud of these guys,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We get to go play for it now, and we’re excited about that.”
Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres and Game 3 star Giancarlo Stanton drove in runs for the Yankees, who fittingly clinched a spot in their fourth ALCS in eight years on the road. They won 50 games away from home in the recently completed regular season, their most in 21 years.