Greg Bird gives Yankees the life they need in ALCS

Game 1 of the ALCS saw Greg Bird deliver the brunt of excitement for the Yankees. And although his club eventually fell 2-1 to the Astros, Bird showed that he’s ready to lead his team to the promised land.

The 2017 season has been a will he or won’t he type of situation for the soon to be 25-year-old Greg Bird. His Yankees spring training breakout was the stuff of legend — slugging home runs with so much ease that it looked like those Nick Johnson comparisons were totally unwarranted.

But then Bird got hurt. And it lingered pretty much the entire season. Upon his return to the everyday lineup in September, Bird looked completely lost at the plate.

Never the slickest defensive first baseman to begin with, without his power bat from the left-hand side of the plate (something the Yankees desperately lack), I feared the worst — that Bird was actually Kevin Mass reincarnated.

But manager Joe Girardi stuck with the option that gave him the best chance of upside (Bird), which has resulted in the most consistent offensive production outside of Brett Gardner.

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In 25 Postseason at-bats this year, Bird is slashing .280/.400/.600 with three home runs and five RBI. Yes, his 11 strikeouts are higher than the team would like, but so are Aaron Judge’s 17 Ks and Gary Sanchez’s 14.

The thing you have to like about Bird right now is that he’s making things happen.

I get that Bird runs like he’s carrying a piano on his back. But often scrutinized third base coach, Joe Espada, did the right thing sending Bird home on Judge’s three-two count, two-out single in the top of the fifth inning.

Up until that point, the Yanks were stymied by Astros southpaw Dallas Kuechel. With Bird running on the pitch, Espada tried to capitalize on the first real opportunity to get back in the game. I mean, it was the only hit with runners in scoring position by the Yankees all night.

It took a near perfect throw from left fielder Marwin Gonzalez, and a fantastic tag by Brian McCann to just nab Bird at the plate.

Post-game, Bird told The New York Post there was nothing he could have done differently to get his team one run closer.

"“I’m too slow,” said Bird, whose ninth-inning homer provided the Yankees’ only run. “I wish I was faster. I was running. I feel I did what I could there.”"

However, Bird would get the lone run back in the top of the ninth, when he hit a long home run down the right-field line off of Astros closer Ken Giles.

Though the homer came with two outs — and the Bombers ultimately unable to cap the comeback, it just goes to show that you can never entirely count out Bird or the Yanks.

Next: ALDS Game 2 loss propelled Yanks

Let’s hope the momentum captured in the final frame on Friday night carries over to Game 2.