Closer Clay Holmes struggled for a second straight appearance, coming in in the eighth inning and giving up an infield hit, a walk and a two-run, go-ahead double to Paul DeJong, as the Yankees lost their third straight, 4-3 to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St.

Boone later said that Aroldis Chapman would have pitched in the ninth had the Yankees still been ahead. .

The eighth inning started innocently, as Holmes gave up a soft infield hit to Nolan Arenado with one out

“Something that’s made me successful is limiting contact to righties,’’ Holmes said

That would allow Holmes to attack right-handers in the seventh, eighth or ninth, but he has been less effective of late. 

The Yankees took the lead in the top of the first after DJ LeMahieu led off with a walk

Aaron Judge flied out, but LeMahieu moved to third on a Carpenter single. 

After Judge singled and stole second, he moved to third on a Carpenter groundout after Hudson was replaced by Andre Pallante

After he walked LeMahieu with one out in the ninth, Tim Locastro pinch ran, but Judge and Carpenter couldn’t come through