New York Yankees rookie first baseman Greg Bird hit his first two Major League home runs, the second the eventual game winner, as the Yankees (67-52) defeated the Minnesota Twins (59-61) 4-3 Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx.

With his team trailing 3-2 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Bird launched a 1-0 fastball from Ervin Santana into an empty bullpen in right center field for a two-run shot (2) to give the Yankees the lead for good. 

Carlos Beltran walked with two outs and the bases empty and scored on the blast, Bird's second of the game and second of his brief five-game career. With his 2-for-4 performance on Wednesday, Bird is 6 for 18 (.333) with 2 HR, 5 RBI, and 4 R in those five games.

Bird also connected in the bottom of the fourth (video) with a no-doubt two-run shot (1) into the second deck in right for his first Major League home run, which gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Beltran was aboard via a two-out single and scored ahead of Bird.

Credit Beltran with keeping the inning alive both times to give Bird and the Yankees their opportunities; credit Bird with taking advantage of those opportunities.

Minnesota scored three times in the top of the sixth. Joe Mauer drove in both Chris Herrmann and Shane Robinson with a bases-loaded two-out single. After a walk loaded the bases again, Trevor Plouffe brought in Brian Dozier from third with an infield single. The Twins led 3-2 at that point, but Bird nullified that rally when he came to bat a half-inning later.

Nathan Eovaldi (W: 13-2, 4,24 ERA) pitched seven strong innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out eight. With the win, Eovaldi is now tied for third in the American League with 13 wins.  Chasen Shreve pitched a scoreless eighth, and Dellin Betances (S: 8) closed it out with a perfect ninth (two strikeouts) while Andrew Miller enjoyed a day off. 

Santana (L: 2-4, 5.53) is having a tough season. He lasted 7 2/3 innings in which he allowed four earned runs on seven hits. He walked two, struck out six, and served up both of Bird's home runs. 

The Yankees now lead the A.L. East by 1.5 games over the Toronto Blue Jays, pending the outcome of the Bue Jays' game with the Philadelphia Phillies. Minnesota is 3.5 games out of the second American League Wild Card position (Los Angeles Angels) with four teams ahead of them.

On Thursday, the Yankees welcome the Cleveland Indians to town for a four-game set while the Twins head to Camden Yards to face the Baltimore Orioles beginning Thursday.