ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Ramon Laureano grabbed the spotlight, and that was just fine with Edwin Jackson.
Laureano made an outstanding defensive play in the third inning, helping Jackson and the Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-0 on Saturday night.
With one out and Eric Young Jr. on first, Laureano raced into the gap in left-center to haul in Justin Upton’s drive. The rookie center fielder then completed the double play by uncorking a long throw to first .
“He’s a game-changer,” Jackson said. “I’ve seen him make a play similar to that in Triple-A when I was in Nashville. I knew he had it in him but man, plays like that, if those don’t get you fired up then I don’t know what does.
“First of all, to make the catch. And after that the throw. That’s what he’s capable of doing. He’s a playmaker for sure. I’m sure you’ll see much more of it.”
Marcus Semien homered twice and Khris Davis also connected as Oakland won for the eighth time in 10 games. The A’s also stayed 1 1/2 games ahead of Seattle for the second AL wild card.
Jackson (4-2) allowed three hits and walked three in 7 1/3 innings. Ryan Buchter got two outs and Emilio Pagan finished the five-hitter.
But it was Laureano’s play that caught everyone’s attention.
“That’s probably one of the more impressive things I’ve seen in baseball,” Oakland left fielder Chad Pinder said.
“He knew exactly what he was doing. He put it right on the money.”
Semien had three hits, scored three times and drove in four runs. He hit a three-run shot in the second and a solo drive in the fourth.
Davis hit his 34th homer in the third, a solo drive to right that made it 5-0. Davis has 13 homers in his 20 games since the All-Star break.
Los Angeles had won four in a row. Tyler Skaggs (8-8) was tagged for seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings in his first start since coming off the disabled list after being sidelined by a left adductor strain.
“I don’t know if he felt that great,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He missed some time with the groin injury. It didn’t look like it was very crisp. On a night where obviously we needed some innings out of him, unfortunately he couldn’t get to a certain point of the game. He battled hard. He missed some spots, wasn’t very crisp and those guys hit the ball well.”
A’s third baseman Matt Chapman hit a run-scoring single in the first inning to reach base safely in a career-high 25th consecutive game.
THAT’S A LOT OF HOME RUNS
Semien’s second homer of the night was No. 8,000 for the franchise since it moved to Oakland in 1968. The Athletics got the ball and will display it at home.
LONG TIME COMING
Angels catcher Francisco Arcia, who made his major league debut last month after 12 years in the minor leagues, pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit. He became the first position player to pitch for the Angels since Chili Davis on June 17, 1993. Arcia said he threw bullpen fastballs.
“It was just fun,” Arcia said. “I got in the back of my mind when I was pitching in Little League.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: RHP Shohei Ohtani (strained right elbow) threw a light bullpen session.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Trevor Cahill (4-2, 3.12 ERA) starts Sunday. He is 3-0 with a 3.76 ERA since coming off the disabled list on July 12.
Angels: RHP Taylor Cole (0-2, 1.59 ERA) will open for Los Angeles, but Scioscia said it will be a bullpen game.
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