Tyler Soderstrom hit a home run, and Zack Gelof connected for a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 5-3 win against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. This victory allowed the Milwaukee Brewers to secure a spot in the playoffs.
With Chicago’s loss, the Brewers clinched the NL Central title for the third time in four years, making them the first team to reach the 2024 postseason.
Soderstrom, 22, contributed two runs batted in and scored two runs, helping Oakland achieve its first series win over the Cubs since 2013. Brent Rooker had a strong game, going 2 for 3 with an RBI and two walks.
Tyler Ferguson (4-2) pitched a hitless seventh inning to earn the win, while Michel Otañez struck out two batters in the eighth. Mason Miller recorded his 27th save, setting a rookie record for the franchise.
“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,” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay.
“We started him out right at the beginning of the year in that closing role, and he’s just had such a great season doing it. The confidence that this club has turning the ball over to him feels really good.”
Oakland (67-86) has the third-worst record in the American League. However, after a 5-4 trip against the Astros, White Sox, and Cubs, plus a 30-25 record since the All-Star break, the A’s are feeling confident as they aim to finish the season strong and build momentum for 2025.
“At this point of the year, obviously out of playoff contention, it’d 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 that’s 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 that’s what we did.”
In his fourth game back from a left wrist injury, Soderstrom hit a home run in the fourth inning, marking his first since June 28, and gave Oakland a 1-0 lead.
