CNN
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The New York Yankees clinched a spot in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals to win the American League Division Series (ALDS) by the same score.

Starter Gerrit Cole was the dominant force of the game, giving up only one run and six hits in seven innings, striking out four.

“We’re excited,” the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner said after the festivities, according to MLB.com. “I had a few IPAs with the boys and sprayed some champagne. This is the best.”

The Yankees’ bullpen also impressed again, with Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver each pitching an inning and retiring the side with little fuss.

The win advances New York to the 19th Championship Series in its history, four more than any other franchise. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the Bronx Bombers are the biggest rivals in that regard and can close the gap to three with a win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

The win also means the Yankees clinched their fourth ALCS in eight years after winning 50 games during the regular season, the most since 2003.

Kansas City has now lost its last nine games at Kauffman Stadium.

Any hopes the Royals had of taking the series to Game 5 were immediately dashed when the Yankees scored on just three pitches, with Gleyber Torres hitting a double on the first pitch of the game, before Juan Soto’s single got him to brought home.

RBI singles from Torres and Giancarlo Stanton in the fifth and sixth gave New York a 3-0 lead, and the Royals began to let their frustrations show, Maikel Garcia sliding – too powerfully, according to Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe – into second in an attempt to avoid a double play.

Both benches cleared and umpires were needed to separate the teams, but the home crowd suddenly rose to their feet and the team responded, an RBI double by Vinnie Pasquantino finally putting Kansas City on the board.

In the seventh, the Royals came within a few feet of tying the score. With Tommy Pham on base, Kyle Isbel sent a fly ball to deep right field, but Soto was able to catch the ball in the lane and spoil the party.

It was the closest Kansas City would get, Aaron Judge recording the final one in the ninth to send New York through.

“In 2023 our season ended here, you know? We were not able to make it to the postseason,” Judge told the AP. “I remember a lot of these guys looking at the field, and you know, we all came together and said, ‘It won’t happen again.’”

The Yankees now return home to take on the Cleveland Guardians or Detroit Tigers in the best-of-seven ALCS starting Monday night.