Severino shines, Judge sets K record in doubleheader

N.Y. slugger strikes out eight times

DETROIT — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge became the first player since at least 1920 with eight strikeouts in a doubleheader, including five punchouts in the nightcap as the Detroit Tigers beat New York 4-2 for a day-night split Monday.

Leonys Martin had two hits and scored twice for Detroit in the second game after New York took the opener 7-4 behind Luis Severino’s eight strong innings and a six-run fourth inning.

Judge struck out eight times in nine at-bats, a record for a doubleheader during the liveball era, according to STATS. Judge struck out in each of his five at-bats in the late game, including with a runner aboard in the bottom of the ninth.

The five strikeouts were a career high for Judge, who led the majors with 208 strikeouts while winning AL Rookie of the Year last season.

The doubleheader made up rainouts from April 14 and 15. Both teams wore No. 42 for the second game because they were making up their postponed Jackie Robinson Day showdown.

Mike Fiers (5-3) got the win in the nightcap, allowing two runs in 5⅔ innings. Three relievers finished, with Shane Greene striking out three in the ninth for his 15th save. Detroit’s pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts in the game.

Domingo German (0-4) allowed four runs in 6⅔ innings for New York.

Martin doubled and scored on Ronny Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly in the second for Rodriguez’s first major league RBI, and Brett Gardner tied it with an RBI triple in the third.

Fiers plunked Giancarlo Stanton later in the inning, leading to a brief verbal exchange between the pitcher and slugger. Fiers then got Gleyber Torres to ground out to leave the bases loaded.

Stanton hit a 456-foot homer in the sixth, then pointed at Fiers as he crossed the plate.

Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez hit back-to-back doubles in the seventh to give Detroit a 4-2 lead. The Tigers have hit a double in 52 consecutive games, their third-longest such streak since 1908.

Severino and New York’s bats had given the Yankees a good start to the day.

“We sent our ace out there for the first game and counted on him giving us a big performance,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Severino did just that, striking out 10 to win his seventh straight decision and extend New York’s winning streak to five games.

Severino (9-1) allowed two runs — one earned — and four hits while walking none. He is 7-0 in 10 starts since losing at Boston on April 10.

Austin Romine hit a threerun homer, and Torres and Greg Bird each homered for the AL East-leading Yankees, who briefly moved 21 games over .500 for just the second time since ending the 2012 season at 95-67; the Yankees were 91-70 last year before losing their regular-season finale.

Drew VerHagen (0-2) allowed seven runs, seven hits and two walks in 3⅔ innings.