Ohtani retires first 19, fans 12 over 7

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani retired the Athletics’ first 19 batters and yielded one hit over seven shutout innings Sunday in his home pitching debut, leading the Angels to a 6-1 victory.

Marcus Semien’s clean oneout single to left broke up Ohtani’s bid for a perfect game, and the two-way Japanese sensation finished the inning for a bravura performance with 12 strikeouts.

Ohtani (2-0) struck out the side twice during the latest feat in a series of early-season superlatives by the 23-year-old player.

Ohtani won his pitching debut in Oakland last weekend with six strong innings. He homered in three consecutive games in Anaheim between starts in his attempt to become the first regular two-way player in decades.

He struck out the side in the first inning on 15 pitches while mixing 99 mph heat with 80 mph splitters and precipitous curveballs.

Ohtani struck out the side again in the fifth inning, and he fanned every A’s batter except Jonathan Lucroy at least once.

Jed Lowrie drew a four-pitch walk after Semien’s single, but Ohtani ended the threat by inducing Khris Davis’ weak groundout and striking out Matt Olson. He left the mound to the last of several standing ovations from his enthralled new fans in the sellout crowd of 44,742 — the largest regular-season day game crowd since Angel Stadium was renovated in 1998.

Mike Trout and Ryan Schimpf homered, and Albert Pujols had an RBI double to boost the Angels.

Kendall Graveman (0-2) gave up five hits and four walks while failing to get out of the fourth inning for the A’s, who have lost seven of 10.

Matt Joyce ninth. homered in the