Bird's big game lifts Severino, RailRiders

Greg Bird has been happy with the way he's swung the bat since his promotion. Sunday gave him even more reason to be pleased.

The Yankees' No. 4 prospect homered and drove in four runs as Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre defeated Buffalo, 8-1.

Bird got the scoring started for the RailRiders, slugging a three-run homer to right-center field with two out in the third frame. Two innings later, the 22-year-old first baseman added to the lead with an RBI single to right field and finished 2-for-3 with a pair of walks.

"We had runners on second and third and I think there were two outs," Bird said of his blast. "It was early in the game and [Daniel] Norris was throwing the ball well, I was just trying to have a good at-bat. I fouled off some pitches, got a good pitch to hit and I think that put us in the right direction."

Bird made his International League on July 4, going 0-for-3 against against the Bisons. Since then, the Colorado native has had hits in eight straight games and lofted his first Triple-A homer on Saturday.

"It was awesome," Bird said of his first homer. "It was a really good feeling. It tied the game and it was exciting.

"It's always a new adjustment when you see new guys. Just seeing what the ball does, how they try to work you. It's always an adjustment. It's been good. I've been happy with the way I've been swinging and playing."

Bird's effort supported Luis Severino, the Yankees' top prospect, who gave up one hit and struck out four while walking one over five innings to improve to 5-0 in nine starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

"Lights-out stuff," Bird said. "It's what we've been seeing from him all year. He's an extremely talented and good pitcher. He's smart too, which makes it even better. It's only a matter of time."

Overall, the MLB.com's No. 17 prospect is 7-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings between the Double-A Trenton Thunder and the RailRiders.

Ben Gamel had three hits and scored three runs while Kyle Roller was 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI for the RailRiders.

Norris, the Blue Jays' top prospect, fell to 2-9 after giving up six runs on nine hits while striking out one and walking two over 4 2/3 innings.