Tyler Soderstrom homers, scores twice to lift the Athletics over Cubs 5-3
Oakland Athletics Tyler Soderstrom celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Oakland Athletics Zack Gelof hits a one-run double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Oakland Athletics Seth Brown, left, scores past Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya after Oakland Athletics Zack Gelof hit a one-run double during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Chicago Cubs Dansby Swanson hits a one-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Brady Basso celebrates with teammates in the dugout after the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele, right, throws out Oakland Athletics Shea Langeliers at first during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele reacts after Oakland Athletics Brent Rooker hit a single during the third inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Ethan Roberts looks down after Oakland Athletics Tyler Soderstrom hit a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Brady Basso throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) Oakland Athletics Tyler Soderstrom celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024.
(AP Photo/Nam Y.
Huh) By Gavin Dorsey The Associated Press CHICAGO Tyler Soderstrom homered and had two hits, two runs and two RBIs while Zack Gelof hit a double to take the lead in the eighth as the Athletics beat the Cubs 5-3.
The As win helped the Milwaukee Brewers become the first major league team to earn a spot in the playoffs, on Wednesday.
Chicagos loss clinches a playoff berth for the Brewers, who won the National League Central division for the third time in four years.
The 22-year-old Soderstrom scored two runs and drove in two more to help Oakland to a series victory over the Cubs, the Athletics first since 2013.
Brent Rooker was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a pair of walks.
Tyler Ferguson (4-2) picked up the win after throwing a hitless seventh inning, and Michel Otanez struck out two in the eighth.
Mason Miller earned his 27th save of the year, setting a new franchise rookie record.
Coming into the season and through spring training, we saw the confidence, we saw the demeanor and the ability to handle that high-leverage situation, As manager Mark Kotsay said about Miller.
We started him out right at the beginning of the year in that closing role, and hes just had such a great season doing it.
The confidence that this club has turning the ball over to him feels really good.
Oakland sits at just 67-86 in the standings, third-worst in the American League.
Despite the As 2024 struggles, a 5-4 road trip against the Astros, White Sox and Cubs, along with a 30-25 record since the All-Star Break, have given Oakland players confidence and hope as they look to finish the season strong and build momentum into 2025.
At this point of the year, obviously out of playoff contention, itd be pretty easy to just mail that one in in the fifth or sixth inning and try to get back on the road and get back home, but thats not the character of this group, Rooker said.
The group of guys in here is going to go out there and fight until the last out and try to win every game possible, and thats what we did.
Batting in just his fourth game since returning from a left wrist injury, Soderstrom hit a home run in the fourth inning to mark his first long ball since June 28 and give Oakland the lead, 1-0.
The Cubs were held to just two hits through four innings, but finally connected in the fifth.
With the bases loaded, Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki hit RBI singles and Cody Bellingers sacrifice fly made it 3-1.
The streak of hits ended rookie pitcher Brady Bassos day after 4 2/3 innings.
He gave up three runs on six hits and two walks, but struck out five.
Soderstrom and Tyler Nevin each singled in the seventh, and Lawrence Butler and Rooker brought them home to tie it up.
Gelofs RBI double in the eighth regained the lead for Oakland.
Gelof advanced to third on the throw, putting him in position to score and take a 5-3 lead on a hard-hit grounder to second by Soderstrom.
Chicagos Justin Steele had a short return to action in his first game back from elbow tendonitis, going just 2 2/3 innings.
He allowed two hits and three walks to go along with a strikeout, then was taken out after loading the bases in the third.
Ethan Roberts took over for the final out, and zero earned runs were attached to Steele.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before the game that he expected Steeles Wednesday start to be short and that he planned to slowly reintroduce him to playing again.
Nate Pearson (2-2) took the loss after giving up two runs in 1 1/3 innings.
UP NEXT The As expect J.T.
Ginn (0-1, 4.94) to start Friday at home against the Yankees and Gerrit Cole (6-5, 3.97 ERA)..
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