Joe says rest is the word for Bird

Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius gave the Yankees an early lead with a pair of solo homers, but CC Sabathia couldn’t hold it. Sabathia (6 IP, 7 H, 5 ER) gave up five runs on six hits in the second inning, and the Bombers’ winning streak ended at six.

In his last four starts, the 36-year-old lefty has allowed 22 earned runs on 30 hits in 20.2 innings for a 9.58 ERA. The Yankees will return home having finished off a 4-1 roadtrip.

Brett Gardner threw out the speedy Billy Hamilton as he was trying to stretch a single into a double to end the sixth inning. Starlin Castro did a good job corralling the throw and applying the tag.

The second inning, as things quickly unraveled for Sabathia. Thanks to six singles and a walk, a 2-0 lead turned into a 5-2 deficit. Sabathia is basically a $25 million No. 5 starter at this point, prone to having one really bad inning.

Joey Votto had a two-run single in the second inning and walked twice. He also hit a two-run homer off Masahiro Tanaka on Monday night. The Reds first baseman is a no-doubt-about-it superstar

STAT OF THE DAY

Sanchez’s 448-foot homer in the first inning was the longest homer of his career, per Statcast. It allowed Sanchez to reach base for the ninth consecutive plate appearance and was his first homer since April 7.

UNSUNG HERO

Tim Adelmann contained the Yankees’ prolific offense, giving up three earned runs in five innings, which qualifies as a success.

Chris Carter struck out twice, grounded out to third and was hit by a pitch, lowering his average to .193.

YANKEES VS. ASTROS

7:10 Thursday at Stadium; TV: YES Michael Pineda (3-1, 3.12) vs. Dallas Keuchel (5-0, 1.88)

CINCINNATI — Greg Bird is still in rest mode. Bird went on the 10-day disabled list on May 2 with a bruised right ankle. Joe Girardi said the 24-year-old first baseman will likely be reevaluated on Thursday, when the Yankees begin their four-game series with the Astros at Yankee Stadium.

“It’s rest for 10 days and he’s been getting treatment back in New York,” Girardi said Tuesday before the Yankees lost, 5-3, to the Reds. “He’ll probably be evaluated on Thursday and then we’ll see where he’s at.”

Bird was just 6-for-60 while trying to play through the injury, which he suffered in Clearwater, Fla. in the team’s last Grapefruit League game when he fouled a ball off his ankle. He later fouled another ball near the area while the team was in Pittsburgh. Bird had a pair of MRIs that suggested he had the bruise.

The Yankees have been playing Chris Carter and Matt Holliday at first base in Bird’s place. Carter started on Tuesday night and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a HBP.

REST DAYS

Chase Headley (right knee) and Aaron Hicks (left foot), who were hit by pitches in the seventh inning of Monday night’s game by Drew Storen, did not start on Tuesday night but ended up entering the game as pinch-hitters.

Headley lined out to left in the ninth while Hicks went 0-for-1 with a walk. Hicks was doubled off to end the game, but there was nothing he could do after taking a secondary lead at second on Gary Sanchez’s screaming liner to third.

HATS OFF TO YOU

The Yankees will wear pink and grey hats for Mother’s Day featuring a special logo for Derek Jeter’s No. 2 retirement game. They will wear their traditional navy hats during batting practice.

BRETT STRIKES 12

Brett Gardner’s bunt-single in the fifth inning allowed him to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games. … The Yankees went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. Dellin Betances lowered his ERA to 0.77 in the seventh. He walked his first two batters before striking out the side. … Starlin Castro recorded his third error and his sixth double. … Didi Gregorius had three hits to raise his batting average to .313. … The Yankees have hit 52 homers this season.