MINNEAPOLIS -- For almost three seasons, Josh Willinghams family was there to greet him outside the Twins clubhouse at Target Field. Luke Shaw 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. Marcus Rashford Jersey .com) - The fading Ottawa Senators have a chance to make up some ground in the playoff race on Tuesday night as they play host to the New York Rangers. Sergio Romero Jersey . Interestingly, the culprits were not rookies, but well paid, experienced pros. The first gaffe came in the 24th minute of arguably the biggest early season MLS game in history between Seattle and Toronto. Sounder newcomer Marco Pappa, (with over 100 MLS games, and 39 Guatemalan Caps to his name) attempted a back pass to one of his central defenders.Valencia have climbed up the La Liga table in recent weeks following three straight wins, including a 2-1 victory over Barcelona the Nou Camp. The change in form comes soon after the departure of Gary Neville, who was sacked as head coach after just three wins in 16 league games.His former assistant, Pako Ayestaran, has replaced him, and he told Sky Sports Guillem Balague what he thinks went wrong for Neville and how he has helped turn things around... Communication the keyOne of the main problems to get through to the players is communication. A few weeks ago, I was with a Spanish football head coach who has been really successful. He told me that he wouldnt go to a foreign country again without mastering the language. To get to the players you need the language and thats crucial. That could be one of the changes that has improved the level of the players Pako Ayestaran Its important and I am sure the problem with Gary was not a lack of knowledge, he has knowledge about the game.He has to put that into practice but to get to the players you need the language and thats crucial. That could be one of the changes that has improved the level of the players.All about self-beliefEverything changes with the way you are working and the belief that the people in charge show to the players. I think when you are in a bad run of results, your self-confidence and belief affects the way you train, your determination and performances.As soon as we changed the belief and self-confidence, the way the players approach the training sessions and daily basic challenges, then everything has been changing little by little. Guillem Balague chats with Graham Hunter about the futures of Ronaldo and Neymar as well as Barcelona’s financial struggles Change of mentalityWhen people arrive at clubs in bad runs normally the first thing they look at is the conditioning of the players, but most of the time that is not the main problem. Nemanja Matic Manchester United Jersey. . Normally it is a lack of belief, lack of togetherness, lack of professionalism, lack of respect, or lack of ambition.As soon as you address all these main problems that affect the way players come to training, then everything starts changing. I say to players they have a daily challenge: to do the best work you can in every session, on every task, do it with enthusiasm and for the benefit of the team, because everything you give to the team you will get back. Also, you must overcome difficulties.Watch Valencias La Liga match at Getafe, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 5.10pm on Sunday. Also See: Ronaldo: To sell or not to sell? Torres resurgence great to see Fixtures Table ' ' '