The New York Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-1 in Game 4 of the ALDS on Thursday night, advancing to the ALCS.
This will be the Yankees' 19th appearance in the ALCS, which in 2022 will be the most in MLB history. And they will become the first American League team to earn that spot, as the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers will play Game 5 to decide the pennant opponent.
It took a while for the team to make it in Game 3, but the Yankees needed just two batters to make it in Game 4.
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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, 99, hits New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo in the bottom of the 6th inning of Game 4 of the 2024 MLB Playoffs ALDS against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman. – Scored an RBI from Stanton (27 years old, not pictured). stadium. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagine Images)
Gleyber Torres took the first pitch of the game from Royals starter Michael Wacha to left-center field and doubled, giving the Bombers the advantage. Then Juan Soto hit the ball into the hole on the right side for an RBI, making it 1-0.
Meanwhile, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole kept the Royals offense at bay throughout the game, getting off to perhaps the team's best start of the season at the right time.
He pitched seven innings, throwing 87 pitches, allowing six hits, one earned run, and four strikeouts.
After a hard tag, the bench becomes empty during the Yankees vs. Royals game. New York Stars shake off Kansas City players
The Yankees added another run in the top of the fifth inning when Gleyber Torres hit a two-out single to right, scoring Alex Verdugo. John Barty, starting again at first base in Game 2 of this ALDS, hit a single to right field to advance Verdugo to third base.
After that, Giancarlo Stanton, who carried the Yankees' offense in Game 3, rose again with an RBI hit that scored Aaron Judge, and finally established himself in the baseball world in this postseason. Hitting a double to left-center field probably took a weight off his shoulders.
There was a moment in the game when Berti almost exploded in anger after turning into a double play, stepping on a bag at first base and then firing the ball to shortstop Anthony Volpe, who struck out Michael Garcia in the bottom of the sixth inning. .
However, Garcia seemed to take exception to Volpe's high tag, as the defender's forearm also appeared to hit him in the head and neck area. Volpe patted Garcia on the back and basically said that everything was fine and that it wasn't done on purpose.
Kansas City Royals third baseman Michael Garcia, 11, is hit by New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe after being tagged out at second base in the 6th inning during Game 4 of the ALDS of the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Kauffman Stadium. Staring at the player (11 years old). (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagine Images)
However, things escalated further when Jazz Chisholm Jr., who has already become an enemy to Royals fans with his social media comments and postgame interviews, began verbally defending Volpe.
Torres tried to push Garcia Make toward the dugout when the benches emptied. Thankfully nothing more physical happened.
Kansas City tried to use that moment as fuel and was still unable to score a run off Cole. However, three consecutive hits were made from the infield scrum, and Bobby Witt Jr. scored from first base with an RBI double by Vinny Pasquantino, and the Royals won 3-1.
But the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium disappeared when Kyle Isbell caught Cole's inside fastball as it soared into the right field seats. Now that the score was tied, everyone tried to bat, but Soto caught the ball against the wall of the right field seats, ending the inning.
From there, Clay Holmes relieved Cole for a quick eighth inning, and in the bottom of the ninth, Judge got the final out in center field and Luke Weaver completed the shutout.
New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto, 22, reacts after hitting a pop fly ball in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 4 of the 2024 MLB Playoffs ALDS against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. . (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagine Images)
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The Yankees have time to return home, watch Game 5 of the Guardians-Tigers series unfold, regroup, and await their opponent in Game 1 of the ALCS on Monday at Yankee Stadium.
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