The St Louis Cardinals allowed four runs in the top of the ninth to fall to the New York Yankees on Sunday, Aug. 17 by an 8-4 score, dropping their fifth straight game.

All four runs were unearned following a pair of errors committed by second baseman Thomas Saggese. JoJo Romero inherited a tied game in the ninth and allowed a leadoff single to José Caballero, who then advanced to third after a throwing error and then a passed ball. Back-to-back walks with one out loaded the bases for Cody Bellinger, who reached after a fielding error scored two runs. Aaron Judge then scored on a grounder by Jazz Chisholm Jr, who after stealing second, was able to score on Paul Goldschmidt’s double. Despite not having an earned run or hit, Romero was tagged for the loss, only recording two outs and allowing a pair of walks, one intentional.

The ninth-inning collapse wiped out a tight game the Cardinals waged after the Yankees struck first.  The visitors scored three runs in the top of the fourth with RBI singles from Chisholm, Caballero, and Ryan McMahon. The Cardinals responded with two in the home half of the inning, both unearned after leadoff batter Iván Herrera reached on a fielding error. Saggese’s double with two outs scored Herrera as well as Jordan Walker. The Cardinals added runs in the fifth off an Alec Burleson single and sixth with Yohel Pozo’s fifth home run of the year. Oli Marmol was ejected in the top of the seventh when Trent Grisham claimed a leadoff walk. Grisham would then score on a sacrifice fly from Bellinger.

Miles Mikolas lasted five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and five walks, striking out just one, in a no-decision.

With their fifth straight loss and being swept at Busch for the second time this season, the Cardinals slip to 61-64, 18 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central and five behind the Mets for the third wild card spot. The Cardinals travel to Miami for the start of a three-game series against the Marlins on Monday evening. Matthew Liberatore will take the mound for the Cardinals, with first pitch at 5:40 p.m.