Kansas City, Mo. ? The Chicago White Sox were a big part of Brian Bannister’s happy childhood, and they’ve dealt him plenty of misery so far as an adult.

Bannister pitched six strong innings and benefited from several good defensive plays Sunday in Kansas City’s 6-3 victory over the team his father once pitched for and the team that had beaten him four times in a row.

“I have a lot of emotion when I play these guys,” Bannister said. “I threw everything I had at them today.”

Miguel Olivo hit a two-run home run and Willie Bloomquist and David DeJesus had three hits apiece for the Royals, who gained a split in the four-game series after snapping a five-game losing streak against Chicago the day before.

Growing up, Bannister hung around Comiskey Park and was a huge White Sox fan while his father, Floyd Bannister, won 66 games for them. Many of the men who played with Bannister’s father still wear Chicago uniforms and were in the park on Sunday, including manager Ozzie Guillen.

“They’ve got the same trainer, the same manager, the same hitting coach and the same first-base coach that were my father’s teammates back then,” Bannister (6-6) said. “I’ve known those guys for a long time. I don’t know how that factors in because they’re not on the field playing against me. But (the White Sox) always seem to have good at-bats against me, no matter how well I’m throwing. They always seem to give me a tough game.”