MINNEAPOLIS -- For almost three seasons, Josh Willinghams family was there to greet him outside the Twins clubhouse at Target Field. Avery Johnson Jersey . Willinghams family was waiting for him again on Friday, only this time the slugger came out of a different door. Willingham returned to Target Field and hit a bases-clearing double in Kansas Citys five-run fourth inning, and the surging Royals hung on to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5. When Willingham popped his head out of the visitors clubhouse after the game, his three young sons ran excitedly to be with their dad in his new surroundings. "I knew it was going to be a little strange playing against your former team," said Willingham, who was traded from the Twins to the Royals four days ago. "Im just happy we won the game tonight." Danny Dufy (8-10) allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings to win his third straight start. Kansas City has won 11 of 12 and sits atop the AL Central. This one didnt come easy, though. Oswaldo Arcia hit an RBI double in the ninth and pinch-hitter Chris Parmelee drove him in with a groundout to cut the Royals lead to 6-5. But Greg Holland struck out Danny Santana for his 37th save in 39 chances. After Minnesota took a 2-0 lead in the third, the first six Royals hitters reached base to start the fourth off Ricky Nolasco (5-8). Willingham drilled a bases-loaded double down the left-field line to make it 3-2. Two batters later, Alcides Escobar tripled to score Willingham and Mike Moustakas. Escobar also blooped an RBI single in the eighth to make it 6-3. Nolasco made his first start since going on the disabled list July 8 with an elbow strain. He struck out three and looked sharp in every inning besides the fourth. The right-hander signed a four-year, $49 million free agent contract in the off-season, the richest free agent deal in Twins history, and now has a 5.99 ERA. "I dont think its about building confidence up with a guy like him, its about results and we need to get results out of him," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We need to see him get going stronger and more consistent, and giving us a chance." After Duffy was removed, Aaron Crow and Francisley Bueno finished the sixth inning before Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Holland preserved the victory. That trio has allowed only four runs over the last 44 1-3 innings, including two by Holland on Friday. The Royals are 19-4 over that span. Kurt Suzuki had three hits for Minnesota. BACK-T0-BACK REVIEWS.ALMOST Third-base umpire Chris Segal called Trevor Plouffe safe after Royals C Salvador Perez tried to pick him off in the fourth. The call stood after a 3-minute, 23-second replay review. Two pitches later, Plouffe scored when Arcia grounded into a double play. Gardenhire wandered out of the dugout to consider challenging the Arcia call, but returned without challenging. HOLLAND TIRED "Im wearing Greg out. I cant find any way to get him a break," Royals manager Ned Yost said about his closer. "Its more my fault than it is his, but hes so good, you just have to do it." THE BODY GETS BOOED Former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura was booed loudly when he and his wife were shown on the Target Field big screen for "kiss cam." Ventura has been in the news recently after winning a $1.8 million defamation lawsuit against the estate of "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle. Its probably the loudest Ventura has been booed since he wore a feather boa and wrestled as a bad guy at the old St. Paul Civic Center in the glory days of the AWA. TRAINERS ROOM: Twins: Top prospect Byron Buxton will head to the Twins facility in Fort Myers to rehab from a concussion suffered during an outfield collision while playing for Double-A New Britain on Wednesday night. Royals: After a Thursday X-ray showed hes not ready to return, 1B Eric Hosmer wont have his fractured right hand examined again until after the Royals current 10-game road trip ends. Once cleared, Hosmer likely would need a week or two of work before rejoining the team. UP NEXT: Yordano Ventura (9-8, 3.45 ERA) pitches for the Royals against Minnesotas Phil Hughes (12-8, 3.88) in the second game of this four-game series. . The Royals play 32 of their final 42 games against teams currently at or below .500. . After doubling in the eighth on Friday, Twins 1B Joe Mauer will try to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 17 games. Andre Roberson Jersey . The same cant be said of last Saturdays 2-2 draw at Olympic Stadium against a very weakened New York Red Bulls side and one which had three stalwarts in Henry, Cahill and Olave back home in Harrison, NJ. Oklahoma City Thunder Pro Shop .J. Ellis have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year contract. https://www.cheapthunder.com/1501h-mike-muscala-jersey-thunder.html .com) - The University of Montana named Bob Stitt as its new head football coach on Tuesday.PARIS - France coach Didier Deschamps has recalled Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and other fringe players for friendlies matches against Albania and Sweden.Lacazette, who missed out on Frances World Cup squad despite being on the provisional list, gets his reward for some strong recent form with Lyon. He is the joint top scorer in the French league with 10 goals, tied with Marseilles Andre-Pierre Giganc, who is also called up.Centre half Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is set to make his first appearance in two years after impressing at Roma, where is on loan from Newcastle, and left back Benoit Tremoulinas could win his third cap after helping Sevilla make a good start to the season.France faces Albania next Friday in Lorient and hosts Zlatan Ibrahimovics Sweden side four days later in Marseille.Albania is in the same group as France in qualifying for the 2016 European Championship. But since France is already qualified as host, its matchess dont count for points for either team. Stitched Thunder Jerseys. Deschamps preferred Rennes goalkeeper Benoit Costil as his No. 3 choice, with Saint-Etiennes Stephane Ruffier dropping out.___FranceGoalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Benoit Costil (Rennes).Defenders: Lucas Digne (Paris Saint-Germain), Christophe Jallet (Lyon), Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City), Loic Perrin (Saint-Etienne), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Benoit Tremoulinas (Sevilla), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Roma).Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Paris Saint-Germain), Joshua Guilavogui (Wolfsburg), Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle).Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Marseille), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Mathieu Valbuena (Dynamo Moscow). ' ' '