The New York Yankees suffered a disappointing 14-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, marking their fourth defeat in five games and threatening their slim lead in the AL East over Baltimore. Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes struggled, allowing five runs on nine hits over four innings, while the bullpen combined to yield 13 earned runs on 21 hits. Despite rallying to tie the game at 7-7, the Yankees fell victim to a five-run seventh inning from the Cardinals, highlighted by Lars Nootbaar's crucial three-run double. Manager Aaron Boone hinted at potential returns for injured pitchers Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt during the upcoming road trip, emphasizing the team's need for reinforcements. With a record of 79-58, the Yankees are still in playoff contention but face challenges ahead. The loss came on the heels of a tight 6-5 defeat to the same Cardinals team, underscoring the Yankees' recent struggles.