ANAHEIM Carlos Ruiz Jersey , 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 http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-randy-johnson-jersey ,” 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 RUNSSemien’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 COMINGAngels catcher Francisco Arcia, who made his major league debut last month after 12 years in the minor leagues Jean Segura Jersey , 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 ROOMAngels: RHP Shohei Ohtani (strained right elbow) threw a light bullpen session.UP NEXTAthletics: 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. ST. LOUIS (AP) — Even John Gant ****ed a smile.Gant homered for his first major league hit and pitched one-run ball into the sixth inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 6-4 on Tuesday night for their season-high seventh consecutive victory.Kolten Wong had three hits and three RBIs as St. Louis (65-55) pulled within four games of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs and moved within one game of the Philadelphia Phillies for the second NL wild card. The Cardinals also improved to 18-9 since Mike Shildt was named interim manager on July 13 http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-jay-buhner-jersey , the most wins for a manager through his first 27 games in franchise history.“Things are starting to click for us,” Wong said. “We’re playing confident. We’re out there playing aggressive and I think it’s the kind of baseball Cardinals fans have been waiting for.”The Nationals (60-60) have dropped six of eight to fall eight games behind Atlanta in the NL East.“We’ve just got to keep pulling the same rope, keep grinding it out, keep trying to win ballgames,” Nationals slugger Bryce Harper said.Gant (5-4) permitted four hits and struck out six in 5 1/3 innings. He has given up just two earned runs over 11 1/3 innings in his last two starts, both wins.The 26-year-old Gant was 0 for 30 for his career when he drove a 1-1 pitch from Gio Gonzalez (7-9) over the wall in left in the second. The two-run shot gave Washington a 3-0 lead.“I was jogging kind of my hands in the air,” said Wong, who scored on Gant’s homer. “I already knew it was going out. Looking back I think he almost caught me.”Added Gant Denard Span Jersey , “I thought it was going to hit the wall maybe but when I finally looked up and (Wong) was looking back at me, that’s when I knew it was going over the wall.”Gant, who has a reputation for being a stoic player, admitted to smiling “once or twice” once he got back to the dugout.Wong’s solo homer made it 6-1 in the sixth, but Washington responded with three in the eighth. Harper hit a two-run shot, and Daniel Murphy singled in Anthony Rendon.Matt Adams then struck out looking against Dakota Hudson, ending the inning, and Jordan Hicks worked the ninth for his fourth save in eight chances.Paul DeJong also doubled and scored for St. Louis one night after he connected for a game-ending homer in a 7-6 victory. Matt Carpenter walked in the sixth to extend his on-base streak to 32 games.“We have a 25-man roster and we have confidence in all of them Guillermo Heredia Jersey ,” Shildt said. “They’re here for a reason and guys are looking to contribute every night and in different ways.”Gonzalez was charged with five runs and five hits in four innings. The veteran left-hander is just 1-4 in his last six starts.“I wasn’t hitting my spots,” Gonzalez said. “Just not being as consistent in the strike zone as I should be. It’s just one of those games you can’t explain.”IRONMANSt. Louis star Yadier Molina played in his 22nd consecutive game, the most by a catcher 35 years or older in major league history.TRAINING ROOMNationals: Reliever Ryan Madson was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a back injury. RHP Trevor Gott and LHP Tim Collins were promoted from Triple-A Syracuse, LHP Sammy Solis was sent down, and RHP Erick Fedde was moved from the 10-day to the 60-day disabled list.Cardinals: OF Tyler O’Neill (groin) was activated from the 10-day disabled list and OF Adolis Garcia was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.UP NEXTThe Nationals will start right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (5-2, 3.54 ERA) in the third game of a four-game set. Austin Gomber (2-0, 3.45 ERA) pitches for the Cardinals on Wednesday night. Hellickson is 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA in five career starts against St. Louis. Gomber is coming off his first win as a starter in a 7-0 Cardinals victory against the Kansas City Royals last Friday.