Angels 2, Athletics 0
Gordon Beckham homered and Wade LeBlanc gave up five hits in 5 1/3 innings as Los Angeles blanked host Oakland.
LeBlanc (1-1) was followed by Jason Grilli, who got the final two outs of the sixth. Kevin Jepsen and Joe Smith each worked an inning before Huston Street pitched a perfect ninth for his 40th save.
Oakland starter Sonny Gray (13-10) struck out a career-best 12 in seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) and three hits. The Athletics, who were shut out for the 11th time, are tied with the Kansas City Royals for the American League’s two wild-card spots.
Beckham led off the sixth with a blast to left field to give Los Angeles a 2-0 lead. Oakland loaded the bases in the eighth against Smith before Stephen Vogt flew out to end the inning.
The Angels ran themselves into a run in the second inning, beginning with Aybar stealing second and continuing to third on Geovany Soto’s throwing error. Efren Navarro walked later in the inning and when Soto threw to second on a steal attempt, Navarro got in a rundown before being tagged out as Aybar came home.
GAME NOTEBOOK: RF Josh Reddick went 3-for-4 and 2B Eric Sogard had two hits while combining for five of Oakland’s seven hits. … LeBlanc hasn’t allowed a run in 10 2/3 innings over two starts since joining the rotation after the Angels clinched the AL West. … Gray has lost seven of eight decisions after finishing July with a 12-3 record.