Nestor Cortes, Yankees’ bullpen struggle in loss to Cardinals

NEW YORK — In Sunday afternoon’s game between the Yankees and Cardinals at Yankee Stadium, the ball was bouncing the wrong way for both sides in what turned into a slugfest. It took until the seventh inning to settle things, as the Cardinals came away with a 14-7 win.

It was a bad day for New York’s bullpen. After Nestor Cortes left the game after four innings, the Yankees’ relievers allowed nine runs (eight earned). The worst inning for the bullpen came in the top of the seventh. The game was tied at 7 when St. Louis scored five runs against two relievers.

Yankees right-hander Jake Cousins started the inning, but he left the game with runners on first and second and one out. Enter Tommy Kahnle, and it was a rough day for the right-hander. After getting Brendan Donovan to line out to left fielder Alex Verdugo, Kahnle couldn’t record an out. Jordan Walker followed with a single to right field to load the bases. Lars Nootbaar then cleared the bases with a double to make it a 10-7 game.

Victor Scott II then doubled over the head of right fielder Juan Soto to bring home Nootbaar. Phil Bickford replaced Kahnle and induced a soft comebacker from Masyn Winn, but Bickford threw the ball past first baseman Anthony Rizzo, allowing Scott to score. Winn was credited with a single on the play.

Just when it appeared that Cortes was back to his winning ways, he took a few steps back. Cortes threw 80 pitches and allowed five runs on nine hits, including four runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by Luken Baker.