Mariners 3, Royals 1: Chris Young tossed eight stellar innings as host Seattle knocked off Kansas City.

Justin Smoak hit a two-run homer and Dustin Ackley slammed a solo blast for the Mariners, who won for the 12th time in 16 games. Robinson Cano had two of Seattle’s seven hits in the swift two-hour, 18-minute contest.

Young (3-0) allowed one run and three hits while winning his third consecutive start. Fernando Rodney worked around a two-out single by Billy Butler in the ninth before notching his 11th save in 12 opportunities

Kansas City took the early lead when Mike Moustakas tripled to right in the third inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alcides Escobar. Seattle’s Corey Hart led off the fourth with a single and Smoak followed with his blast to right off Yordano Ventura (2-2) to put the Mariners ahead.

Ackley homered to right in the sixth to make it a two-run margin. Ventura allowed three runs and six hits before departing after 6 1/3 innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mariners 3B Kyle Seager (flu) sat out for the second straight contest. … Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer was hitless in four at-bats after going 5-for-7 over the first two games of the series. … Seattle RF Michael Saunders hyperextended his left knee while chasing Moustakas’ triple and left after the inning ended.