The New York Yankees advance to the ALCS on Thursday night after a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals in Game 4 of the ALDS.

It will be the Yankees’ 19th trip to the ALCS, their last in 2022, the longest in MLB history. And they are 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 board in Game 3, but the Yankees needed just two batters to do so in Game 4.

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

Gleyber Torres threw the first pitch of the game from Royals starter Michael Wacha to left center field and turned it into a double to get things started for the Bombers. Then Juan Soto hit a ball through a gap in right field for an RBI single, making it 1-0.

Meanwhile, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole had perhaps his best start of the season at the right time for his team, as he kept the Royals’ offense at bay all game.

He pitched seven innings, allowing six hits, one earned run and striking out four over his 87 pitches.

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The Yankees would add one more in the top of the fifth inning when Gleyber Torres had a clutch, two-out single to right field to score Alex Verdugo. Jon Berti, who got another start at first base after doing so in Game 2 of this ALDS, moved Verdugo to third on a single to right.

Then the man who ran the Yankees’ offense in Game 3, Giancarlo Stanton, returned to action with an RBI single that scored Aaron Judge, who finally managed to score a baseball this postseason. He hit a double into left center field, which may have lifted a weight off his shoulders.

There was a moment in this game where tempers almost flared after Berti turned a double play, stepped on his bag at first base before firing the ball to shortstop Anthony Volpe, who tagged out Maikel Garcia in the bottom of the sixth inning.

However, Garcia appeared to take exception to Volpe’s high tap, while the defender’s forearm also appeared to hit him in the head and neck area. Volpe patted Garcia on the back to say that everything was fine and that it was not done intentionally.

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

But things escalated when Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is already an enemy to Royals fans following his comments on social media and during post-game interviews, began defending Volpe with his words.

That’s when the benches cleared as Torres tried to push Garcia toward the dugout. Luckily, nothing more physical came out of this.

Kansas City tried to use that moment as fuel, but still scored a point on Cole. But three straight hits followed the infield scrum, capped by Vinnie Pasquantino’s RBI double, leaving Bobby Witt Jr. scored from first base, killing the Royals in a 3-1 game.

But the air was taken out of Kauffman Stadium when Kyle Isbel got his hands on a Cole inside fastball that flew to right field. Everyone tried to get the ball out, as this would have tied the game, but Soto caught the ball at the foot of the right field wall to end the inning.

From there, Clay Holmes had a fast eighth inning in relief of Cole, and Luke Weaver closed out the game in the bottom of the ninth, as Judge got the final out in center field.

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after popping out during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals during 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 in the Guardians-Tigers series unfold, and wait for their opponent for Game 1 of the ALCS on Monday at Yankee Stadium.

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