Kyle Tucker homers in his 4th straight game as the Cubs power past the A's again, 7-4

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Seiya Suzuki hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Kyle Tucker added a solo shot in the third to give him home runs in a career-best four straight games and the Chicago Cubs slugged away for a second consecutive night in beating the Athletics 7-4 on Tuesday.

The A's answered in the bottom of the first on Brent Rooker's two-run drive, and Shea Langeliers had a two-run shot in the third.

Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (2-1) struck out six over 6 2/3 innings and continued his impressive interleague success in his third start of 2025, helping Chicago win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Ryan Pressly worked a scoreless ninth for his second save.

Tucker's four home runs are tied with Aaron Judge for second-most in the majors.

Dansby Swanson added an RBI double after hitting home runs the previous two games. Chicago didn't put up near the offensive numbers as a night earlier in an 18-3 rout that featured 21 hits, four home runs and Carson Kelly hitting for the first cycle by a Cubs player since Mark Grace in 1993.

A night after a sellout of 12,119 for the first major league game at Sutter Health Park, the A’s drew 10,095.

Chicago came out swinging against Luis Severino (0-1).

The right-hander had been stellar throughout his career against the Cubs but that changed in his second start of the year. Severino entered with a 1.00 ERA in four starts versus Chicago — three earned runs over 27 innings — before being tagged for six runs, five earned, in six innings.

He signed a $67 million, three-year contract with the Athletics in December.

Steele is 10-4 with a 2.33 ERA in 23 interleague games. Since the beginning of last year, he’s 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA in nine interleague outings.

Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (0-1, 12.46 ERA) faces LHP Jeffrey Springs (1-0, 0.00) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell takes questions from the media before a baseball game against the Athletics, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson signs a baseball for a fan before a baseball game against the Athletics, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics pitcher Luis Severino throws to a Chicago Cubs batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics pitcher Luis Severino throws to a Chicago Cubs batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics pitcher Luis Severino (40) warms up in the bullpen before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele pitches to a Athletics batter during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele pitches to a Athletics batter during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki celebrates after hitting a three run home run with Chicago Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker starts to round first after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki celebrates back to the dugout followed by Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker and Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ after hitting a three run home run in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

NEW YORK (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a $500 million, 14-year contract that starts in 2026, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, a deal that removes what would have been the biggest star from next offseason’s free-agent market.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity early Monday because the agreement had not been announced.

Guerrero’s deal does not include any deferred money, the person said.

Guerrero agreed in January to a $28.5 million, one-year contract that avoided arbitration and the four-time All-Star first baseman had said he wouldn’t negotiate after he reported to spring training in mid-February. Still, talks with his agent continued well into the regular season.

Guerrero got the third-largest contract in total dollars behind outfielder Juan Soto’s $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets that started this season and two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers that began last year and is heavily deferred.

Guerrero's $35.71 million average annual value under the new deal ranks eighth among current contracts behind the agreements of Ohtani ($70 million), Soto ($51 million), Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler ($42 million), Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge ($40 million), Texas pitcher Jacob deGrom ($37 million), Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell ($36.4 million) and Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole ($36 million).

A son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, the Blue Jays star turned 26 last month and would have been a free agent this fall at a relatively young age.

Guerrero is a .277 career hitter with 160 homers and 511 RBIs. He's batting .256 with no homers and four RBIs in the first 10 games this season.

Seeking its first World Series title since winning championships in 1992 and 1993, Toronto notably failed to land Ohtani, Soto and Roki Sasaki. The Blue Jays agreed to a $92.5 million, five-year contract with outfielder Anthony Santander, a $15.5 million, one-year contract with right-hander Max Scherzer and a $33 million, three-year contract with reliever Jeff Hoffman.

Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette, a two-time All-Star, remains eligible for free agency after this year's World Series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returns to the dugout following eighth-inning baseball game action against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates a win over the Washington Nationals following MLB baseball action in Toronto, Monday, March 31, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates hitting a double during the third inning of MLB baseball action against the Washington Nationals, in Toronto, Monday, March 31, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) smiles after being tagged at second base by New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) looks on prior to MLB baseball action against the Washington Nationals, in Toronto, Monday, March 31, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)