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 —

Luis Mendoza pitched into the eighth inning, Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson stroked two hits each and drove in a run and the Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 5-2 on Wednesday night.

The Royals, who have the worst record in the American League (42-61), won consecutive games for the first time since June 27-29.

Mendoza (5-7) limited the Indians to two runs and four hits, only one after the fourth inning, and went 7 1/3 innings to pick up the victory. Mendoza, who was 1/3 in his four previous starts, did not throw more than 11 pitches in an inning except for the third when he threw 25.

The Royals jumped to a 4-0 lead after two innings.

Alcides Escobar walked with one out and stopped at second on Cain’s single. On a double steal, catcher Carlos Santana threw the ball into left field, allowing Escobar to score and Cain to take third. Cain, who is hitting .313 since coming off the disabled list, wound up scoring on a groundout by Billy Butler.

In the second inning, Chris Getz walked, stole second and scored on Dyson’s single to center. Dyson stole second and scored on Alex Gordon’s major league-leading 37th double.

Santana homered in the fourth for the first Indians run.

Jose Mijares replaced Mendoza with one out in the eighth after a double by Jack Hannahan, Mijares hit Shin-Soo Choo with a pitch and gave up a run-producing single to Asdrubal Cabrera.

Greg Holland, who replaced Jonathan Broxton as the closer after he was traded Tuesday to Cincinnati, worked a spotless ninth for his first save since Sept. 25.

Indians rookie right-hander Zach McAllister (4-3) gave up five runs, five hits and two walks in six innings. The Royals stole four bases off McAllister, who has allowed nine stolen bases without a runner being caught in his 11 starts.

— Associated Press —