KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Tommy Milone pitched seven effective innings and Eduardo Escobar reached base four times and drove in three runs as the Minnesota Twins beat the struggling Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Monday night.

The Royals have been outscored 31-9 in dropping four straight, matching their longest losing streak of the season.

Milone (8-4) held the Royals to six hits and two runs, while striking out four and walking one.

Escobar contributed an RBI-single in a three-run sixth and drove in two runs with a two-out single in the seventh off Joba Chamberlain, who was making his Royals’ debut.

Yordano Ventura (10-8), who was 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his five previous starts, yielded four runs, eight hits, five walks and two wild pitches in 5 1-3 innings, striking out eight.

Aaron Hicks hit Ventura’s third pitch for his second career leadoff homer.