Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani strikes out career-high 13 batters in 5-0 win over Kansas City Royals - ESPN

Ohtani struck out a career-high 13 over eight dominant innings of two-hit ball, and the American League MVP also reached base three times in Los Angeles' 5-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

After giving up two singles to start that delayed first inning, Ohtani (6-4) retired 16 straight Royals and 23 of the final 24 batters he faced.

While matching the longest start of his major league career, he allowed just one baserunner over his final seven innings -- on a walk that was quickly erased by a double play.

David MacKinnon got his first major league hit with an RBI single in the seventh for the Angels, who avoided a series sweep with their fourth victory in six games overall.

Kansas City still has won five of seven.

In his most recent home start two weeks ago, he pitched seven innings of one-run ball and also homered in a victory that snapped the Angels' franchise-record 14-game skid.

Ohtani's fastball topped 99 mph twice in the second half of his start while he baffled Kansas City, getting a whopping 34 combined strikes on swing-and-misses or called strikes.

Daniel Lynch (3-7) wasn't as effective for the Royals early on, but the left-hander resourcefully shut down the Angels until they loaded the bases in the fifth on two walks and an infield single.

Royals: Zack Greinke is expected to come off the injured list Friday to start when Kansas City opens a three-game weekend series at home against Oakland