CHICAGO (AP) — Shea Langeliers homered twice, including a towering solo drive that cleared the Wrigley Field bleachers in left, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Tuesday night.
Langeliers’ third multihomer game of the season and No. 5 for his career upped his season total to 28, extending his career best.
Click to Gallery
Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ, right, slaps hands with third base coach Willie Harris as he runs the bases on a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni, left, is forced out at second by Oakland Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson who throws to first in an attempted double play during the eighth inning of a baseball game ,Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner catches a pop out from Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Oakland Athletics pitcher Mason Miller reacts to striking out Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki to end the baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Oakland Athletics' Shea Langeliers hits a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Oakland Athletics' Shea Langeliers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
“The homers kind of come in bunches,” said Langeliers, who finished with three RBIs. “It's not just a linear thing. You go through those stretches where you see the ball really well, you're on everything and sometimes it seems like you don't even see the ball.”
Lawrence Butler also went deep for Oakland, which stopped a three-game losing streak. The skid included back-to-back losses to the MLB-worst White Sox.
Ian Happ hit two solo homers for the Cubs (77-74), who fell six games behind the New York Mets for the final NL wild card with 11 games left.
Happ's 25th homer, a one-out drive to left on a 103.2 mph fastball from All-Star closer Mason Miller, got Chicago within one in the ninth. But Miller retired Dansby Swanson on a grounder to first before striking out Seiya Suzuki for his 26th save.
“It almost kind of forces you to rise to the occasion,” Miller said. “You obviously want to quiet an away crowd, but the ninth inning usually is the most exciting part of the game."
The Cubs said the switch-hitting Happ's shot in the ninth was the fastest pitch hit for a home run in the Statcast era, since 2015.
“I was trying to go up and missed down,” Miller said. “So I could kind of look at it that way, that I missed my spot, but going opposite field, you tip your hat.”
Happ said he was just trying to make contact and not swing late.
“You’re trying so hard to be on time for that fastball it makes the other stuff play up," Happ said. "That’s the difference. He’s throwing an 88-mile-an-hour slider, and that’s a 15-mile-an-hour difference. That’s crazy.”
Nico Hoerner hit three singles for Chicago, and Michael Busch drove in a run. Jordan Wicks (2-4) allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings.
Oakland rookie Mitch Spence (8-9) pitched five effective innings for his first win since July 27. He permitted two runs and seven hits.
With Brent Rooker aboard after a one-out single in the first, Langeliers drove a 1-0 fastball deep to left-center. Butler gave Oakland a 3-0 lead when he hit his 22nd homer into the basket in the third.
The Cubs responded with two runs in the bottom half on Happ's drive to right and Busch’s bloop RBI single.
Langeliers’ second homer of the night sailed 418 feet, reaching Waveland Avenue in the fifth.
MAKING MOVES
The Cubs recalled right-hander Daniel Palencia from Triple-A Iowa and optioned righty Trey Wingenter to their top farm club. Palencia pitched two scoreless innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: Butler was back in the leadoff spot and right field after a maintenance day on Monday.
Cubs: LHP Justin Steele will rejoin the rotation on Wednesday against Oakland. Steele, Chicago’s opening-day starter, has been on the 15-day injured list since Sept. 1 with left elbow tendinitis.
UP NEXT
Oakland LHP Brady Basso (1-0, 1.23 ERA) faces Steele (5-5, 3.09 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon. Basso earned his first major league win against the White Sox on Friday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ, right, slaps hands with third base coach Willie Harris as he runs the bases on a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni, left, is forced out at second by Oakland Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson who throws to first in an attempted double play during the eighth inning of a baseball game ,Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner catches a pop out from Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Oakland Athletics pitcher Mason Miller reacts to striking out Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki to end the baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Oakland Athletics' Shea Langeliers hits a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Oakland Athletics' Shea Langeliers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
LOS ALTOS, Calif. & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 11, 2025--
Bidgely joins fellow energy industry thought leaders in a series of live discussions at the upcoming DistribuTECH International conference in Dallas, Texas, taking place March 24 - 27. As an award-winning top AI company in the energy space, Bidgely and its pioneering utility partners will share their success implementing AI to achieve critical initiatives, including holistic EV programs, grid modernization and more.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311979490/en/
“Changes to the energy landscape, particularly EVs, renewable energy and increased peak demand, have necessitated the use of AI technology to align real-time consumer load impact with long-term forecast planning,” said Abhay Gupta, CEO of Bidgely. “At DistribuTECH 2025, we will see an exciting compilation of AI success stories that showcase how utilities are building smarter, stronger grids.”
Featured Bidgely DistribuTECH Sessions
Beyond Managed Charging:How Utilities Are Building a Holistic EV Management Program, From Detection to Grid Planning to Load Shift
T uesday, March 25, 10:00 - 10:50am local time, featuring:
The session will explore how utilities are developing comprehensive AI-powered EV management programs that detect EVs, analyze charging patterns and identify impact on specific grid assets to maximize load-shift value and optimize grid resilience.
Distributed Intelligence and Evolving AMI (AMI 1.0 to 2.0): A Playbook for Utilities Leading the Grid Transformation
T uesday, March 25, 2:00 - 2:50pm local time
This session will showcase the seamless transition from AMI 1.0 to AMI 2.0 smart meters that minimizes disruption to operations and customer coverage, while building a future-ready grid that meets evolving demands.
Smart Grid Future:How Utilities Are Building a Smarter Grid With AI, Dynamic Rates, and Customer Coaching
W ednesday, March 26, 10:00 - 10:50am local time
This session will highlight best practices and lessons turned from using TOU rates and AI-enabled solutions to bridge the gap between customer engagement and flexible grid management.
Peer-to-Peer Exchanges and Live Demonstrations
Ramanathan will also lead an interactive roundtable focused on how AI and GenAI are driving personalization, enabling real-time grid intelligence, and unlocking new demand flexibility opportunities to future-proof the energy ecosystem.
Additionally, Bidgely will host GenAI talks at Booth 1323 in the EXPO Theater in partnership with the Net Zero Alliance, Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27, from 11:30am -12:30pm — GenAI: Transforming Customer and Grid Operations.
To schedule a meeting with Bidgely during DistribuTECH 2025, visit bidgely.com/events/dtech.
About Bidgely
Bidgely is an AI-powered SaaS Company accelerating a clean energy future by enabling energy companies and consumers to make data-driven energy-related decisions. Powered by our unique patented technology, Bidgely's UtilityAI™ Platform transforms multiple dimensions of customer data - such as energy consumption, demographics, and interactions - into deeply accurate and actionable consumer energy insights. We leverage these insights to empower each customer with personalized recommendations, tailored to their individual personality and lifestyle, usage attributes, behavioral patterns, purchase propensity, and beyond. From a distributed energy resources (DER) and grid edge perspective, Bidgely is advancing smart meter innovation with data-driven solutions for solar PVs, electric vehicle (EV) detection, EV behavioral load shifting and managed charging, energy theft, short-term load forecasting, grid analytics, and time of use (TOU) rate designs. Bidgely’s UtilityAI™ energy analytics provides deep visibility into generation and consumption for better peak load shaping and grid planning, and delivers targeted recommendations for new value-added products and services. With roots in Silicon Valley, Bidgely has over 16 energy patents, $75M+ in funding, retains 30+ data scientists, and brings a passion for AI to utilities serving residential and commercial customers around the world. For more information, please visit www.bidgely.com or the Bidgely blog at bidgely.com/blog.
Bidgely and its utility partners will showcase the power of AI for innovative energy management at DistribuTECH 2025. (Photo: Business Wire)