Alcides Escobar’s RBI single with two outs in the 11th inning gave the Kansas City Royals a 7-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.

Escobar’s two-strike hit scored Eric Hosmer, who led off the inning with a single.

The Indians rallied from a six-run first-inning deficit, but lost their sixth straight, their longest losing streak since dropping seven in a row from June 19-26, 2010.

Aaron Crow (2-1), the sixth Royals pitcher, worked a spotless 11th inning to pick up the victory.

Reliever Esmil Rogers (1-1), the fifth of six Indians pitchers, took the loss. Carlos Santana homered and drove in four runs for Cleveland.

Indians right-hander Corey Kluber, who was making his first major league start, faced 10 batters in the first inning and gave up six runs, six hits and a walk, throwing 43 pitches.

Alex Gordon began the Royals’ six-run first with his seventh career leadoff home run. Hosmer’s three-run homer to center was the big blow of the inning. Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson had run-producing singles.

Kluber, however, pitched longer than Royals veteran left-hander Bruce Chen, who was yanked after 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs, seven hits, one walk and two sacrifice flies. In seven starts since July 1, Chen is 0-3 with an 8.73 ERA, allowing 32 runs, 50 hits and 11 walks in 33 innings.

Kluber made it through 4 1/3 innings, giving up no runs and three hits after the first.

The Indians got a run in the second when Michael Brantley led off with a double and scored on Vinny Rottino’s sacrifice fly.

The Indians cut the lead to 6-4 with a three-run third, which was highlighted by a two-run single by Santana. Brantley drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly.

Santana homered with Brent Lillibridge aboard in the fifth off Everett Teaford, who replaced Chen. Santana hit an 0-2 pitch out to left.

— Associated Press —