NEW YORK — Rookie first baseman Greg Bird hit two, two-run home runs while right-hander Nathan Eovaldi took a perfect game into the sixth inning as the New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 in the American League Wednesday. Bird became the third Yankee since 1914 with a multi-home-run game within his first five major-league games. “It was a good day,” said Bird, who is filling in for the injured Mark Teixeira. “We're just trying to win games here. Anything I can do to help. That's all I'm trying to do, nothing more, nothing less.” Bird's performance helped the Yankees win for the sixth time in seven games since last Thursday after he was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and made his debut in an 8-6 win at Cleveland. Bird connected on a 0-1 changeup off Ervin Santana (2-4) in the fourth inning and sent it to the second deck in right field. Two innings later, Bird drove a 1-0 fastball into the Yankees' bullpen beyond the center field wall. The second home run earned the 22-year-old a curtain call from the 38,086 fans at Yankee Stadium after he was urged out off the dugout by right fielder Carlos Beltran. Bird's first career home run was actually a subplot at the time because Eovaldi (13-2) retired the first 12 hitters on 56 pitches. He retired four more before losing his perfect-game bid with one out in the sixth when catcher Chris Herrmann blooped a 101 mph fastball behind third baseman Chase Headley and into shallow left field. Rangers 7 Mariners 2 The Texas Rangers hit three successive home runs in the seventh inning to break open a close game and roll to a 7-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. The homers came in a four-pitch span. Astros 3, Rays 2 (13 innings) Shortstop Carlos Correa slapped a single in the bottom of the 13th inning, giving the Houston Astros their second consecutive walk-off win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Astros right-hander Josh Fields (4-1) earned the victory as six Houston relievers combined to work six scoreless innings after starter Dallas Keuchel had pitched the first seven. Angels 1, White Sox 0 Catcher Carlos Perez hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Los Angeles Angels a 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Right-hander Jered Weaver (5-9) pitched 6-1/3 shutout innings to earn his first victory since May 30. Weaver scattered five hits, permitted no walks and collected five strikeouts. National League Brewers 8, Marlins 7 Ryan Braun homered while Khris Davis hit two others as the Milwaukee Brewers completed an 8-7 victory over the Miami Marlins. Braun's sixth-inning blast, off left-hander Chris Narveson, was the 252nd homer of his career, moving him past Hall of Famer Robin Yount into first place on the Brewers' career list. Padres 3, Braves 2 Rookie catcher Austin Hedges and third baseman Yangervis Solarte lined run-scoring doubles in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the San Diego Padres to victory over Atlanta. Solarte also hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth. Pirates 4, Diamondbacks 1 J.A. Happ threw six shutout innings while the Pittsburgh Pirates used a three-run second inning to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks. Happ gave up two hits, walked two and struck out three. Cardinals 4, Giants 3 Yadier Molina snapped an eighth-inning tie with a leadoff homer to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Nationals 4, Rockies 1 Jayson Werth tripled home two runs in the eighth inning to lead the Washington Nationals to victory over the Colorado Rockies. Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg (7-6) allowed two hits in seven innings with no walks and five strikeouts to record his 50th career victory. Inter-League Athletics 5, Dodgers 2 Right-hander Jesse Chavez allowed two runs and two hits over eight innings as the Oakland A's defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chavez (7-12) gave up a two-run homer to Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins in the third inning and did not allow another hit until second baseman Enrique Hernandez doubled with two outs in the eighth. He struck out six and walked two. Phillies 7, Blue Jays 4 Left-hander Adam Morgan pitched seven strong innings while left fielder Aaron Altherr homered and drove in three runs as Philadelphia beat the Toronto Blue Jays. Other results: Tigers 15, Cubs 8; Royals 4, Reds 3. — Agencies
