Gerrit Cole gets the Yankees into the ALCS with a gutsy win in Game 4

The Yankees advance in the playoffs – and their ace played a big role in that.

Gerrit Cole allowed one run over seven innings and struck out about six to help the Yankees to a 3-1 Game 4 victory over the Royals on Thursday night in Kansas City and catapult the Bronx Bombers into the ALCS.

The seven frames were the longest he has ever spent in a playoff start for the Yankees.

The bats helped him immediately after Gleyber Torres started the night with a double before Juan Soto later drove him in with a single.

Torres and Giancarlo Stanton drove the other two runs with singles in third and fifth, respectively.

Clay Holmes closed the scoring in the eighth before Luke Weaver secured an ALCS berth with a scoreless ninth.

The Yankees now await the winner of the Guardians-Tigers series, which now enters Game 5.