KANSAS CITY – It took all of three pitches for the Yankees’ aggressive game plan to reveal itself. Gleyber Torres roped the contest’s first offering for a double, then raced home on Juan Soto’s single. With a trip to the American League Championship Series on the line, they couldn’t have asked for a better start.

Gerrit Cole appreciated the instant support, and the ace right-hander rose to the occasion, delivering seven sharp innings. Torres and Giancarlo Stanton added run-scoring hits as the Yankees punched their ticket to the next round with a 3-1 victory over the Royals on Thursday in Game 4 of the AL Division Series.

The Yankees are returning to the ALCS for the second time in three seasons, preparing to host either the Guardians or Tigers in a best-of-seven showdown set to begin on Oct. 14 at Yankee Stadium.

Popping bottles in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, the Yankees toasted their third ALCS trip under manager Aaron Boone, who previously steered the club to that round in 2019 and 2022, when they faced the Astros.

Torres built on the Yanks’ lead with a fifth-inning RBI single that chased Kansas City right-hander Michael Wacha, who scattered six hits over 4 2/3 frames.

Held to an infield single through the first three ALDS games, Aaron Judge collected his first extra-base hit of this postseason in the sixth, scorching a 115.5 mph liner to the gap in left-center field for a double. Stanton banged a run-scoring single through the drawn-in infield to produce the third run.

Both benches and bullpens briefly cleared in the sixth inning, when Maikel Garcia took issue with a hard tag by Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe. Vinnie Pasquantino put Kansas City on the board later that inning with an RBI double off Cole, who clamped the damage there.

Kansas City made a late bid to tie the game in the seventh, when Kyle Isbel’s deep fly ball fell just shy of what would have been a game-tying homer. Cole screamed excitedly as he bounded off the field, seeing Juan Soto secure the catch against the right-field wall.