Bird gets shot in ankle

Yanks hoping cortisone helps

GREG Bird received a cortisone shot in his troublesome right ankle to deal with inflammation, and the Yankees hope the first baseman can resume baseball activities within three-to-six days. “My understanding was, let’s see if he feels good in three to six days, then let’s turn him loose again,” Yanks GM Brian Cashman said Wednesday. “I’ll be honest, what’s that ‘turn him loose’ mean? We’ll get some more clarification on that. Is that turn him loose with baseball activities and start him at a low level and work up or turn him loose and say you can go right back out to rehab games? I’ve got to get some clarification on. First and foremost we’ve got to see how he responds the next three to six

Jordan Montgomery delivers on Wednesday at Stadium, helping Yanks snap 7-game skid.

days.”

Joe Girardi believed that Bird could go back into games after “a day or two” of batting practice once he’s cleared for baseball activities.

A completely healthy Bird would in theory solve the Yankees’ first-base conundrum, as Chris Carter has struggled mightily with a .201/.287/.384 slash line and did not start Wednesday with Matt Holliday playing first and Gary Sanchez at DH against the Angels.

Holliday appeared to be a decent temporary solution, going 2-for-4 with a home run and double at first in an 8-4 win. He did drop a popup in foul territory.

Still, Girardi is reluctant to put Holliday there regularly because of his health.

“It’s tough for him, physically,” Girardi said. “He stiffens up sometimes by the end of the game and what happens the next day is the concern.”

The 37-year-old wouldn’t rule out playing first base more often.

“I think if I come up with a pretty good plan I can do that,” Holliday said. “If that’s something they’re interested in doing then I can do it.”

As for Bird, Cashman believes he “absolutely” will play in the majors again this season.

JORDAN RULES

It was up to the rookie starter to put an end to the Yankees’ seven-game losing streak - and he delivered.

Jordan Montgomery, who is 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his last six starts, battled through 5.2 innings, holding the Angels to just two runs on five hits while striking out five.

“It wasn’t up to me,” Montgomery said. “I’m just trying to go out there and do my job. The team really stepped up, made some good plays, put up eight runs, 15 hits, it was a good team win today.”

ELL ON THE WAY?

Jacoby Ellsbury, who has been on the disabled list with a concussion since May 24, took batting practice Wednesday and Girardi hopes that leads to the next step.

“I would think it’d be games,” Girardi said . ... Girardi also confirmed on Wednesday that Luis Cessa will stay in the rotation while CC Sabathia is on the DL with a hamstring strain.