SEATTLE -- Chris Young isnt prone to self-praise. Even after a good start, the Seattle Mariners right-hander is more comfortable giving credit to anyone but himself. Young had another opportunity to act the consummate teammate after he pitched pitching eight efficient innings Saturday night to lead the Mariners to a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals. "Im happy," Young said. "Im happy we won. Thats first and foremost. My goal is for the team to win the day I pitch, however its done." Young (3-0) allowed three hits, struck out three and walked none. It was the first time he threw at least eight innings since he tossed a complete game for the San Diego Padres in 2008. Young pitched sparingly in the majors from 2009-12 and missed most of last season after having surgery to address a nerve ailment that affects his shoulder. The tall right-hander needed just 96 pitches and set down the Royals in order in five of his eight innings. "Ive said all along, hes a veteran guy that knows what hes doing, what he wants to do," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "When hes capable of executing his pitches, hes pretty tough. "Hes gotten better every time out. We got to remember this guys coming off surgery. Very limited amount of spring training. So what hes doing is really remarkable, to command it so early like he is." Fernando Rodney pitched around a two-out single in the ninth inning to record his 11th save in 12 attempts. Justin Smoak gave Young all the run support he would need with a two-run home run to right in the fourth to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead. Smoaks fifth home run of the season gave him 24 RBIs, a number he didnt reach last year until Aug. 1. Dustin Ackley added a solo shot to right in the sixth inning off Royals starter Yordano Ventura. Ventura (2-2) allowed three runs in 6 1-3 innings. The right-hander issued a season-high four walks, while notching a season-low three strikeouts. "You know, he threw the ball really well," Royals skipper Ned Yost said. "The pitch to Smoak wasnt a bad pitch, it was down and in that he got the head out on. The pitch to Ackley was a changeup that he drove into the seats. But outside of that, it was OK." Mariners right fielder Michael Saunders hurt himself when his foot slid in the grass near the right-field line while he was chasing a ball hit by Mike Moustakas in the top of the third inning. Saunders fell to the ground and the ball bounced over him, allowing Moustakas to reach third with a triple. The Royals took advantage of the opportunity as Alcides Escobar followed with a sacrifice fly to left to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. Saunders left the game after the inning and was diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee. He is considered day to day. The four hits tied a season-low for the Royals, who have struggled to find power during their time in Seattle. Of its 23 hits in three games thus far in the series, Kansas City has just one extra-base hit. "So far, so good, but my goal is to help this club make the playoffs," Young said. "My goal isnt to make five ... (or six starts). I try not to evaluate at this point. I just want to keep getting better, working hard and to keep helping the club. I feel like if I do that one game at a time, you look back, well be satisfied where we are." NOTES: Sundays series finale will pit Seattle LHP Roenis Elias against Kansas City RHP Jeremy Guthrie. ... Mariners rookie James Jones hit in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career. Manager Lloyd McClendon said Jones, who hit .306 in the minors from the top spot in the lineup, is a "prototypical leadoff guy." ... Home plate umpire Scott Barry left Saturdays game following the third inning after appearing to take a pitch off his right hand. Crew chief Jeff Nelson took over behind the plate and the game finished with three umpires. 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Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points, Bass added 15 points and had a game-saving block in the closing seconds Saturday, and the Celtics held on for a 103-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.CALGARY -- Jake Virtanen scored twice, including once shorthanded, as the Calgary Hitmen cruised past the Regina Pats 5-1 on Tuesday in the Western Hockey League. Brady Brassart, Mike Winther and Pavel Padakin also scored for Eastern Conference-leading Calgary (31-11-5). Jesse Zgraggen had the lone goal for the Pats (24-19-5). Hitmen goaltender Mack Shields turned aside 31 shots, three better than Reginas Daniel Wapple. --- COUGARS 5 HURRICANES 2 PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. -- The Cougars scored three unanswered goals to beat Lethbridge. Tyler Mrkonjic, Marc McNulty, Jordan Tkatch, Troy Bourke and Brett Roulston had a goal each for Prince George (18-24-7). Bryton Sayers and Taylor Cooper replied for the league-worst Hurricanes (9-35-5), who dropped their fifth straight. Adam Beukeboom stopped 24 shots in net for the Cougars, while Jonny Hogue made 39 savees for Lethbridge.dddddddddddd --- THUNDERBIRDS 3 WARRIORS 2 (SO) SEATTLE -- Shea Theodore scored the only shootout goal as the Thunderbirds won their seventh straight game. Scott Eansor and Ethan Bear gave Seattle (29-14-5) a 2-0 lead before the game was four minutes old. Brayden Point scored twice for Moose Jaw (13-26-8), including a power-play goal with eight seconds left in regulation to force extra time. Taran Kozun made 29 saves for the Thunderbirds. Brody Willms, meanwhile, stopped 35 shots for the Warriors. --- ROYALS 2 TIGERS 1 VICTORIA -- Coleman Vollrath made 28 saves to help the Royals edge Medicine Hat. Brandon Magee and Brandon Fushimi had a goal each for Victoria (31-16-2). Curtis Valk gave the Tigers (26-16-3) some hope with a second-period goal. Medicine Hat goaltender Marek Langhamer meanwhile stopped 28 shots. ' ' '