HISTORIKKKKKKKK game by Judge a lowlight of split
Yankees slugger strikes out eight times in doubleheader
DETROIT — Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton left a doubleheader split in sour moods Monday.
Judge became the first major leaguer to strike out eight times in a doubleheader, including five punchouts in the nightcap, and Giancarlo Stanton was angry after being hit by another pitch from Tigers starter Mike Fiers.
Leonys Martin had two hits and scored twice as Detroit won the second game 4-2. New York took the opener 7-4 behind Luis Severino’s eight strong innings and a six-run fourth.
Judge struck out eight times in nine at-bats, the most in a doubleheader since strikeouts have been tracked for major league hitters, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Judge struck out in each of his five at-bats in the late game, including with a runner aboard in the ninth.
The five strikeouts were a career high for Judge, who led the majors with 208 strikeouts while winning American League Rookie of the Year last season.
“That’s not a rough day; that’s a terrible day,” Judge said. “But the beauty of baseball is that I get to wake up to fresh, new atbats tomorrow.”
In the third inning of the second game, Fiers hit Stanton on the left forearm, leading to a brief verbal exchange between the pitcher and slugger. In September 2014, Fiers was pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers when he hit Stanton in the face, causing serious injuries.
“He wasn’t trying to hit me, but still, with the history, don’t hit me,” Stanton said Monday. “That doesn’t eliminate pitching in — this is the major leagues — but either get it over the plate or make sure it doesn’t hit me.”
Stanton hit a 456-foot homer in the sixth and then pointed at Fiers as he crossed the plate.
“I understand the history, but I thought the way he handled it today was kind of childish,” Fiers said. “Anyone who watches this game knows I wasn’t throwing at him.”
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.
Fiers (5-3) got the win in the nightcap, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 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 6 2/3 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.