NEW YORK -- As Brian Matusz jogged in from the Baltimore Orioles bullpen, Greg Bird briefly examined a few pitches on video just to get an idea of what to expect.

It was still nothing compared to the real thing for Bird, who finds himself in the midst of a pennant race while veteran Mark Teixeira is on the disabled list.

Three pitches after getting a brief scouting report on a pitcher he never faced before, the rookie first baseman hit a tiebreaking three-run home run with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh inning, lifting the New York Yankees to an 8-6 victory over the Orioles on Monday afternoon.

In his biggest at-bat to date, Bird fouled off the first fastball and took another for strike two. The next pitch was a slider and Bird sent it into the right-center-field seats for his fifth home run and New York's major-league-leading 38th homer of at least three runs.

"Just kind of what it's sort of going to look like," Bird said when asked what he gets out of the video. "I'm big on seeing and feeling what it's like in the box. That's the biggest thing for me. Scouting reports don't necessarily do it justice."

The home run eventually helped the Yankees (77-59) win for the eighth time in 10 games and move within a half-game of the Toronto Blue Jays for the third time since losing sole possession of first. When Bird swung, the Blue Jays were losing 8-2 in Boston and eventually were handed an 11-4 loss.

"He's doing good," New York right fielder Carlos Beltran said of Bird. "He's feeling comfortable. He's having a good approach at the plate and it's good to see that he's not trying to go out there and make things happen. He's just letting things happen and staying with his plan, staying with his approach and good things are happening for him."

"He's been able to do that for us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's come up with some really big hits for us. He's a good hitter and we've talked about him for a couple of years. That's why we called him because in Tex's absence, he can make an impact and he's doing that."

It also came off one of the best left-handed relievers in the American League. Before throwing the decisive slider, Matusz had allowed opposing left-handed hitters to a .143 average (12-for-84).

"In that situation right there I'm ahead in the count and hanging the slider right there, that's tough," Matusz said. "I'd like to take that one back, but just move on."

Bird's home run was the third hit by the Yankees, who rallied from a 4-1 deficit and blew a 5-4 lead.

The Yankees used their power to take a 5-4 lead in the fifth, getting a solo home run from designated hitter Alex Rodriguez and a two-run home run from catcher John-Ryan Murphy off Baltimore left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.

After Rodriguez's 29th home run and Murphy's third, Justin Wilson (5-0) gave up a game-tying home run to Orioles shortstop Manny Machado with two outs in the seventh. Wilson was credited with the win when the Yankees put together a rally off Jorge Rondon (0-1) and Matusz.

Bird's home run gave the Yankees an 8-5 lead and they wobbled to the finish.

Dellin Betances loaded the bases on three walks but struck out catcher Caleb Joseph to end a scoreless eighth. Andrew Miller gave up a two-out RBI single to first baseman Chris Davis in the ninth but struck out designated hitter Jimmy Paredes for his 32nd save in 33 opportunities.

Bird's late home run came after right-hander Michael Pineda put the Yankees in a 4-1 deficit. He allowed all four of his runs and five of his six hits in the second before settling down in six innings.

Pineda gave up a three-run home run to second baseman Jonathan Schoop and an RBI single to Machado on a ball that deflected off third baseman Chase Headley's glove into left field. Machado's hit might have scored a second run but shortstop Didi Gregorius backed up the play and threw out third baseman Ryan Flaherty.

The Orioles lost for the 15th time in 18 games as Chen allowed five runs (four earned) and nine hits in five innings. Nine of their losses in this stretch have been decided by three runs or less.

"We made about three mistakes today, not just pitching that cost us runs," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said.

Baltimore also lost center fielder Adam Jones to a sore right shoulder after the top of the eighth. Jones injured it in a throw to first but said he expects to play.

"What else am I going to do," Jones said. "If I don't play, I just sit here and eat ice cream and bother Buck. So probably try to get some rest tonight and hopefully it responds."

Left fielder Chris Young drove in New York's first two runs. He singled in the first on a ball that was misjudged by Davis and added a double in the third.

NOTES: Baltimore C Matt Wieters tested his left wrist by swinging in the cage but was held out of the lineup. He will likely play Tuesday after missing three straight games. ... The Yankees gave LF Brett Gardner and C Brian McCann the day off against Baltimore LHP Wei-Yin Chen. ... Orioles SS J.J. Hardy is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday after being sidelined since Aug. 24 with a strained left groin. ... The Yankees purchased the contract of LHP Chris Capuano from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre while activating RHP Jacob Lindgren (elbow surgery) from the seven-day minor league disabled list, recalling him and moving him to the 60-day disabled list. .. After the game, Baltimore optioned RHP Oliver Drake and OF Junior Lake to Triple-A Norfolk.