Judge strikes out 8 times; Yankees, Tigers split

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 on base 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 victory in the nightcap, allowing two runs in 52/3 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 62/3 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 home run 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 consecutive decision and extend New York’s winning streak to five games.

Severino (9-1) allowed 2 runs — 1 earned — and 4 hits while walking none. He is 7-0 in 10 starts since losing at Boston on April 10.

Austin Romine hit a three-run home run, 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 7 runs, 7 hits — including 3 homers — and 2 walks in 32/3 innings.

“I didn’t get deep into the game, and I didn’t give us a chance to win,” VerHagen said after his first major-league start since August. “There’s not much to like about that game.”

Torres became the first Yankees player under 22 to hit 10 home runs in a season since Mickey Mantle from 1951-1953.

Cabrera hit an RBI double in the first, but Torres tied it in the third when he became the fifth New York player to reach double digits in home runs this season; Candelario leads the Tigers with nine.

Sandy Baez, a 24-year-old righthander making his major league debut for the Tigers as their 26th man, pitched 41/3 hitless innings of relief.

Baez hit his first batter, Bird, then struck out Stanton.

“I’m going to keep that ball wherever I go,” Baez said. “I’ll have it when I’m driving and when I’m at home.”