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    • Yankees vs Royals live score, postgame updates from ALDS Game 4
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    Yankees vs Royals live score, postgame updates from ALDS Game 4

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

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    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gerrit Cole’s job was to help his team lead a little deeper into October, and the Yankees’ ace worked.

    After a rough outing in Game 1, Cole pitched seven strong innings in Game 4 on Thursday night, and the Yankees left Kauffman Stadium with a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals to clinch the best-of-five AL Division Series .

    Powered by RBI singles from Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres and Giancarlo Stanton – the first two coming from Royals starter Michael Wacha – the Yanks advanced to the AL Championship Series.

    They will await their opponent, either the Cleveland Guardians or Detroit Tigers, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

    ALCS SCHEDULE: Here is the Yankees’ schedule for the series

    In 2024, the Yanks’ bullpen has never been better than it is now, and Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver helped prove that again by getting the last six outs without any drama.

    And on Thursday night, the series was briefly reminiscent of the nasty playoff duels between the Yankees and Royals in the 1970s.

    It wasn’t like Graig Nettles tackling George Brett or Willie Randolph being nearly pushed into left field by a slide from Hal McRae – but it was tense for a moment.

    With the Yankees leading 3-0 in the Royals’ sixth inning, the right forearm of Yanks shortstop Anthony Volpe caught Maikel Garcia in the neck as he applied a double play tag.

    Volpe appeared to gesture, “That’s not what I meant,” and pat Garcia on the shoulder, but soon the benches and bullpens streamed onto the field.

    After order was restored relatively quickly, the Royals got things going with an RBI double from Vinnie Pasquantino.

    Cole had a bigger scare in the seventh when Kyle Isbel’s attempt at a game-winning two-run home run landed in Juan Soto’s glove on the right field wall.

    Here’s our analysis of Game 4:

    Gerrit Cole out, Clay Holmes in

    That was it for Gerrit Cole, who now gave Clay Holmes a 3-1 lead in the eighth round. There are still six outs left for the Americans, and Holmes has gone pointless in his last three ALDS appearances against KC.

    It’s close, but Joan Soto is there

    Kyle Isbel’s attempt at a game-winning two-run home run against Cole sent Juan Soto into the right field wall – where he caught it, leaving the Royals in the seventh.

    Tommy Pham, wearing down Cole, recorded his third hit of the game (he’s 16-for-39 against Cole in his career, a .410 average including the postseason) with two strikeouts, providing some drama.

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    After that brief mix-up at second base, the Royals had their best inning against Cole, cutting the lead to 3-1 in the seventh.

    Bobby Witt Jr. woke up. He hit a sharp single to right and scored on Vinnie Pasquantino’s well-hit double to left-center, but Cole ended the frame by catching Salvy Perez on a pop-up.

    Nine outs left.

    And the benches are free

    Tempers heated up and the benches cleared in the KC sixth, but order was soon restored after the Yankees’ newest first baseman, Jon Berti, launched a great double play.

    The problem occurred at second base, where Maikel Garcia slipped (the power was off) and Anthony Volpe took the throw from Berti.

    As he made the attack, Volpe braced himself and hit Garcia in the neck with his right forearm. Volpe immediately patted Garcia on the shoulder with the “I didn’t mean that” gesture, but as Garcia walked away and turned around, the benches began to empty.

    Volpe then gestured to shoo Garcia and the Royals back to their dugout, while Jazz Chisholm Jr. was particularly excited and stared at the KC players. Both bullpens got it done as well, but it was mostly a shouting session.

    Giancarlo Stanton strikes again

    It’s the series by Giancarlo Stanton.

    After Austin Wells’ groundout pushed Judge (double) to third with one out, Game 3 hero Stanton hit a single through the drawn infield, making it 3-0 Yankees.

    Welcome to the party, Aaron Judge

    Aaron Judge’s offensive hitting looked better in Game 3, and he’s now hit a double to left center off Erceg leading off the sixth – his first extra-base hit of the ALDS (2-for-13).

    Michael Wacha out, Lucas Erceg in, Yankees ahead, 2-0

    With three singles (starting with Volpe), the Yanks have a 2-0 lead in the fifth as Jon Berti and Gleyber Torres (RBI) delivered sharp hits to the right side.

    Royals manager Matt Quatraro brought in Michael Wacha for his final ball, Lucas Erceg in this all-or-nothing game for KC and Erceg retired Juan Soto.

    A moment of appreciation for Anthony Volpe

    In his first postseason series, the Yanks’ second-year shortstop has some really good at-bats, most recently a leadoff single here in the 5th.

    Volpe also made a big defensive play in the eighth inning of Game 3, catching Vinnie Pasquantino’s softliner on second base and preventing runners on the corners with one out, ultimately helping the Yanks win 3-2.

    The Bobby Witt Jr. saga

    The Royals’ MVP is now 1-for-15 in the ALDS with a walk after leading off the fourth inning with one out.

    Witt Jr.’s lineout to left was clocked at 114.7 mph right off the bat, but it was the start of another 1-2-3 innings for Cole, with an economical 46 pitches to the 4th and a lead of 1:0.

    Gerrit Cole gets out of a slight jam

    Cole got Michael Massey going for the second time tonight, this time stranding Kyle Isbel at second base and finishing the Royals at third. Still 1-0, Americans.

    After Tommy Pham opened the third with a single (and why didn’t he start Game 3?), Cole lost his chance at a DP when he double-clutched Isbel’s comebacker and carefully threw it to second base for strength.

    RISP factor

    Giancarlo Stanton led off the second inning with a double to the opposite field and was stranded there.

    In the ALDS, the Yankees (who won by four hits last night) are now 3 of 28 with runners in scoring position.

    After Stanton’s brace, the Jazz “got lucky.” Chisholm Jr. – Kauffman Stadium’s new favorite Yankee to loathe – was leading 3-0 but struck out. Chisholm Jr. did go 3-0 on that pitch and started at first base.

    The crowd noticed.

    Gerrit Cole got off to a good start

    It’s a 1-2-3 inning for the Yankees’ ace in the first inning with two strikeouts. Bobby Witt Jr. flied out and is now 1-for-14 with one walk and zero RBI in the series.

    You’ll remember that Cole had a hard-hit 1-2-3 inning in Game 1 at the Stadium, and things went south from there.

    The Yankees strike early

    After three pitches, the Yankees have a 1-0 lead over Michael Wacha.

    Gleyber Torres hit the first pitch to left center and rushed for a double, and Juan Soto drove him home with a ground single to right.

    But Aaron Judge hit a double play and the Yanks took a 1-0 lead. The Judge Meter in this ALDS is now: 1 for 12, zero RBI.

    Who’s on first? Jon Berti

    Boone selected right-handed slugger Jon Berti as the pick at first base (before switch-hitting Oswaldo Cabrera) against Kansas City starter Michael Wacha in a pitching rematch from Game 1 tonight.

    “That’s been my only difficult job every day,” Boone said of first base. Cabrera doubled Wacha in the ALDS opener, Berti had never faced him.

    “I liked the performance of both, and I thought Berti was outstanding on both sides of the ball in Game 2, his first MLB start at first base.”

    Boone “felt that the balance between right and left in the entire lineup” was an advantage, but he “could have just as easily chosen Cabrera.”

    Rematch between Gerrit Cole and Michael Wacha

    Cole made it through five innings in Game 1, but scored four runs (three earned) on seven hits, including a two-run home run off MJ Melendez.

    Wacha went four innings and scored three runs on four hits and three walks.

    “We understand we’re in a good position, but we’re not taking it for granted,” Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo said. “We’re still preparing properly, the mood is good, but… we’re dealing with it.” “It’s also a must-win game.”

    Here’s the lineup the Yankees will field with a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five series at Kauffman Stadium:

    Yankees Game 4 lineup

    1. Gleyber Torres, 2B
    2. Juan Soto, RF
    3. Aaron Judge, CF
    4. Austin Wells, C
    5. Giancarlo Stanton, DH
    6. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B
    7. Anthony Volpe, SS
    8. Alex Verdugo, LF
    9. Jon Berti, 1B
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    Caradoc Wyn
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