Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Justin Smoak smacked a two-run homer, Dustin Ackley added a solo shot and the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals, 3-1, in the third test of a four-game set.
Chris Young (3-0) spun eight innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits for Seattle, which has won seven of its last nine games. Fernando Rodney fired a scoreless ninth for his 11th save of the season.
The 34-year old Young, who signed with Seattle after being released by the Nationals prior to the season, improved to 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA.
Yordano Ventura (2-2) surrendered three runs on six hits and four walks over 6 1/3 innings for the Royals, who had won three of their last four games coming in on the heels of a five-game slide.
The Royals opened the scoring in the third when Mike Moustakas smoked a one- out triple. Mariners right fielder Michael Saunders hurt himself on the play when he tried to slide near the grass down the right-field line as the ball bounced over his head.
Moustakas scored on Alcides Escobar's sacrifice fly into left, but the Mariners surged in front following a two-run fourth.
Corey Hart led off with a single and Smoak followed by blasting a fastball deep into the seats in right to give the M's a 2-1 edge.
Ackley deposited a hanging slider over the wall in right-center in the sixth to increase the margin to 3-1.
Young set the Royals, who had just four hits after tallying 16 singles on Friday night, down in order in five of his eight frames. Kansas City never had a runner in scoring position and left three men on base.
Game Notes
Saunders left the game following the third and was diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee ... The four hits was a season low for Kansas City ... Seattle was 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
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