A few hours after Brian Cashman said he tried to improve the Yankees bullpen at the trade deadline, one of his offseason additions helped cost them in a crushing loss at the Stadium.
After the Yankees came back from a six-run deficit to take the lead in the seventh on a homer from new first baseman Luis García Jr., Angel Chivilli imploded in the eighth, as the Yankees lost to St. Louis, 13-7.
The right-hander entered with a runner on third and no one out in the top of the eighth after Ryan Yarbrough allowed a leadoff triple to pinch-hitter Blaze Jordan.
Chivilli, acquired from the Rockies in the offseason, then allowed six straight batters to reach base — including Nathan Church, whose three-run homer put the Cardinals up for good.
But St. Louis wasn’t done tormenting Chivilli, as two batters later, Jimmy Crooks crushed a two-run shot out to right to put the Yankees in a four-run hole.
And Alec Burleson then went deep for his third homer of the game — and the third home run allowed by Chivilli in the seven-run inning.
Prior to the game, Cashman acknowledged he entered the deadline looking for relievers.
He was unable to land one and expressed optimism that a return to health for Carlos Rodón from elbow inflammation would push one current starter into the pen, with Clarke Schmidt potentially joining the bullpen after he completes his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
But that plan didn’t help the Yankees on Monday.
The miserable night started with Cam Schlittler delivering a clunker, as he needed 83 pitches to get through three innings.
In his brief outing — Schlittler’s shortest of the season — the right-hander gave up four runs and tied a season-high by walking five batters.
Lefty Tim Hill didn’t help matters, as he took over to start the fourth and gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Burleson, his second of the game.
But Hill then got out of the inning and got the first out of the fifth before Kervin Castro and Yarbrough seemed to settle things and the Yankee offense got going.
Austin Wells got the Yankees started with a two-run shot in the fifth, which was followed by a blast by Trent Grisham.
The back-to-back homers got the Yankees within three runs.
The Yankees came through with four runs in the seventh, with García’s monster shot to right-center capping the inning that began with homers by Ryan McMahon and José Caballero, as the Yankees went back-to-back for a second time on the night.
Trent Grisham doubled with one out to knock Ryne Stanek out of the game before García delivered his 24th home run of the season off George Soriano.
But Yarbrough allowed a leadoff triple to pinch-hitter Blaze Jordan in the eighth and Chivilli entered.
The righty hadn’t allowed an earned run in 13 straight appearances.
That changed quickly.
Yankees Merch Shop
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
Chivilli walked the first batter he faced, Masyn Winn, before Church took him deep.
And things only got worse, as Chivilli allowed six runs.
The Yankees didn’t get a baserunner against Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy until José Caballero walked with one out in the third.
Austin Wells followed with a single to center, but Trent Grisham struck out and Ben Rice flied out to left.
But after the Cardinals made it 6-0 on Burleson’s second homer of the night- a two-run shot off of Tim Hill- the Yankees rallied in the fifth.
McMahon opened the inning with a single and Wells followed with a one-out homer, his eighth of the year, to knock McGreevy out of the game.
Facing lefty Justin Bruihl, Trent Grisham homered and the back-to-back shots made it 6-3.
The Yankees pounced again in the seventh, but they were no match for the Cardinals.
