Oakland A’s Tyler Soderstrom is congratulated in the A’s dugout in the top of the fourth inning after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wed Sep 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday the Oakland A’s (67-68) tied up their series with the Chicago Cubs (77-75). They played the rubber match Wednesday and won the series. The Cubs are a tough team and beating these guys today was impressive win.

The A’s have proven that they can hang with any team and they did just that today beating the Cubs 5-3 and winning the series. There was one home run in the game off the bat of newly returned Tyler Soderstrom. Oakland had nine hits in the game with Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom accounting for four of them.

Game recap: Neither team had a lot going in the first three innings. Brent Rooker walked in the opening inning and the Cubs Seiya Suzuki also walked in the bottom of the first. There would be another walk for Oakland in the second inning.

Zach Gelof walked but with no supporting hits it was of no avail. Nico Hoerner singled but that would be it for the Cubs. Oakland had a huge opportunity in the third inning with two outs. Lawrence Butler got his hitting streak going again with a single, Brent Rooker singled driving Butler over to third and Shea Langeliers walked loading the bases.

That would be it for Cub pitcher Justin Steele and Ethan Roberts relieved him getting the third out. Steele went 2 2/3 innings allowing two hits, three walks and no runs.

Oakland got going in the fourth scoring the first run of the game and the A’s took a 1-0 lead. Tyler Soderstrom homered which is always good new for the A’s. They more often than not thrive when those home runs start leaving the park. The Oakland A’s are third in the American League in home runs.

Chicago turned the game around in the fifth inning scoring three runs taking a 3-1 lead. The Cubs had four hits in the inning and one walk. Nico Swanson had a infield single driving Nico Hoerner home and tying up the game 1-1.

Seiya Suzuki drove Pete Crow-Armstrong (who had singled) home from second base extending their lead 2-1. The Cubs would finish off the inning with a third run. Cody Bellinger hit a sacrifice fly and Miguel Amaya scored from third for a 3-1 Cub lead.

Oakland would tie up this game in the seventh inning. This was a 4 hit inning for the A’s. Tyler Soderstrom got the inning going with a single. Tyler Nevin singled driving Soderstrom to second base.

Nick Allen sacrificed advancing Soderstrom to third and Nevin to second. With one out Lawrence Butler grounded out driving Soderstrom home and the A’s were a run away from tying up the game 3-2. Brent Rooker hit an infield single, Nevin scored and this game was tied 3-3.

The A’s really got going in this game striking twice in the eighth inning scoring two runs and taking a 5-3 lead. Seth Brown scored when Zach Gelof doubled and Soderstrom grounded into a fielder’s choice and Gelof scored.

Oakland would taking the 5-3 lead into the ninth inning. Mason Miller took the mound and it was “Miller Time”. He was looking for his 27th save of the season and he came through allowing 1 walk but striking out Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong who grounded into a double play and that was the ball game 5-3 in favor of the A’s.

Game notes: Wednesday afternoon the A’s were able to take the series from the Cubs after tying up the series Tuesday in a 4-3 decision. After leading 4-2 going into the bottom of the ninth inning in game two, Ian Happ homered but the A’s were able to hold on for the win thanks to the brilliance of pitcher Mason Miller who had his 26th save of the season. Brady Basso took the mound for the A’s today and Justin Steele started for the Cubs.

Oakland will now travel home after taking this series from the Cubs to face another powerhouse. The Coliseum is usually packed when the New York Yankees come to town and this series should be no different.

Game One will get underway on Friday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM. J.T. Ginn (0-1, 4.94) was scheduled to start and it was confirmed that he will indeed to take the mound looking for his first win.

He had a terrible start last Saturday giving up ten hits and three runs to the Chicago White Sox and only going four innings. He will be looking for an improved effort Friday night. The Yankees will start Gerrit Cole who comes into this game with a 6-5 win/loss record and a 3.97 ERA.