Yankees Defeat Royals, Advance to ALCS

Gerrit Cole's impressive seven-inning performance led the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals, securing their place in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Cole allowed just one run and six hits, while the Yankees' bullpen extended their scoreless streak to 15 2/3 innings this postseason. Key contributions from Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, and Giancarlo Stanton helped clinch the Yankees' fourth ALCS appearance in eight years. The Royals, despite a disappointing end to their season, made a significant improvement from last year's struggles, marking their first postseason appearance since winning the World Series in 2015. Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed pride in his team's performance, while Aaron Judge reflected on their resolve to return to the postseason after a missed opportunity in 2023. Kansas City is left with hope for the future, building around young talents like Bobby Witt Jr. as they look to improve further.