Royals lose 11th in a row

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kevin Slowey pitched a six-hitter and Carlos Gomez had four hits and two runs batted in, leading the Minnesota Twins to a 5-1 victory Thursday night over the punchless Kansas City Royals, who lost their 11th in a row.

The 11-game skid is the longest in the majors this year and Kansas City’s worst since a 13-game skid May 12-25, 2006.

Slowey (2-4), in his 17th major league start, did not allow a runner as far as second base until David DeJesus and Alex Gordon doubled in the ninth. The right-hander struck out six and walked none. Until Gordon’s RBI double in the ninth, he had pitched 14 scoreless innings in a row for the Twins, who are 5-1 on a six-game trip to Detroit and Kansas City.

Rookie right-hander Luke Hochevar (3-5) took the loss.