Kansas City, Mo. ? Jeff Liefer extended the Kansas City Royals’ misery.

Liefer hit a grand slam in the seventh inning, helping the Cleveland Indians beat Kansas City, 4-2, Thursday night for the Royals’ franchise-record 13th straight loss.

The Royals broke the team record of 12 consecutive losses set in 1997.

“I didn’t hit it great, but I knew that it was going to get the runner in from third and the runner at second was going to get on third,” Liefer said.

“I knew I had done something well, and I was hoping it would keep carrying, which it did. With runners on base, I try to be aggressive. The first pitch might be the best pitch to hit, and I don’t want to miss it.”

The Indians, who have won 14 of their past 18, went 6-0 on a road trip for the first time since May 1-6, 2001, and moved 11 games above .500 for the first time since Oct. 7, 2001, when they finished the season 91-71. They trail the Los Angeles Angels by 21â2 games in the AL wild-card race.

Royals starter D.J. Carrasco (5-6) limited the Indians to two hits in the first six innings before running into trouble in the seventh. Travis Hafner led off with a walk, Victor Martinez singled, and Carrasco threw late to third on Ronnie Belliard’s fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt to load the bases.

A disgruntled fan watches Kansas City play Cleveland. The Indians won, 4-2, Thursday in Kansas City, Mo., handing the Royals a club-record 13th straight loss.

Liefer hit Carrasco’s next pitch out to right for his first home run since June 26, 2004, at Minnesota. It was Liefer’s second career grand slam and second at Kauffman Stadium. His first was Sept. 2, 2003, off Jeremy Affeldt.

“It was a bad pitch,” Carrasco said. “I left a cutter up. It was a mistake and he just put it over the right-field fence. It was just that one pitch, and the guy killed it. I felt I let the team down. I know how much we needed that one. We’ve got to come to the park tomorrow expecting to win.”

Grady Sizemore hit a grand slam Wednesday in the Indians’ 6-1 victory.

Royals manager Buddy Bell kept the clubhouse closed for 30 minutes after the loss.

“When they got the four runs, we can’t stop playing,” Bell said. “We’ve got to keep playing. The nature of the game is to keep going. I didn’t think the focus was there at the end after they got the four runs. That can’t happen. I’m kind of running out of answers.”

Kevin Millwood (6-9) held the Royals to eight hits and two runs in seven innings. Millwood, making his first start since serving a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Seattle’s Yuniesky Betancourt on July 29, struck out five and walked one.

• 6Sports video: Indians scalp Royals (08-11-05)

“Millwood set the tone, keeping us in the ball game” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. “He kept getting better as the game went along. He’s at his best when his back is against the wall. He pitched out of a couple of jams.”

Bob Wickman worked the ninth for his league-leading 32nd save in 37 opportunities.

Chip Ambres and Terrence Long had RBI singles in the third for Kansas City. David DeJesus led off the fifth with a double, and Emil Brown opened the fifth with a triple, but Millwood did not allow either to score. The Royals went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

“It seemed like every inning somebody was starting on second and third,” Millwood said. “I got some help, getting guys to swing at bad pitches, but it’s not a situation you want to be in. But it definitely gives you a lift when you get out of it.

“In the inning when they got the two runs, I was just leaving balls over the middle of the plate. Everything they hit found a hole. It was one of those innings when I was glad it was finally over. When you take the lead, you want to try to the other team down right away.”

Carrasco allowed four runs on five hits, walked two and struck out three in 62â3 innings.