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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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The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year.MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stantons home runs can be indescribable for his Marlins teammates. "Uuufff," was all shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria could come up with after Stantons latest mammoth shot. Stanton hit a homer that was pushing 500 feet to lead Miami to an 8-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night. His two-run blast travelled an estimated 484 feet to left field, according to ESPN Stats and Info, nearly leaving the stadium and giving the Marlins a 2-0 lead in the first inning "He absolutely crushed that ball, but it doesnt surprise me," Marlins pitcher Tom Koehler said. "Ive seen him hit balls further." Jarrod Saltalamacchia had three hits and drove in two runs and Adeiny Hechavarria had a career-high four hits for the Marlins, who have won four of five to start the season. "I think guys are feeling good, theyre confident," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Were having fun. Were just going out there and playing." Tom Koehler (1-0) pitched six innings, allowing two runs and Brad Hand pitched three scoreless innings for his first career save. Yasmani Grandal and Jedd Gyorko each had two hits for the Padres, who have lost three straight. Eric Stults (0-1) allowed five runs in four innings. Stantons second home run got the Marlins rolling and is the longest in the three-year history of the Marlins ballpark. "It was a good first punch," Stanton said. He has nine RBIs through five games while hitting .350. Logan Morrison previously had the longest homer in the stadium at 467 feet off Washingtons Dan Haren on Sept. 6, 2013. "Now you cant say Lo-Mos got a bigger bomb than me," Stanton said. "I thought the one that hit the scoreboard (462 feet against Jamie Moyer in 2012)) was equivalent, but sweet.dddddddddddd The pitch wasnt where Stults had in mind. "I just threw a fastball down the middle," Stults said. "I was trying to throw a fastball in and just didnt get it to my spot." Casey McGehee had two RBIs pushing his total to 10, which is the most by any Marlins player in the first five games of the season. McGehee had a sacrifice fly as part of a three-run third inning to stretch the lead to 5-0 and had an RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring for Miami. The Marlins have scored 35 runs in their 4-1 start after finishing last in the majors in runs last season during their 100-loss campaign. On the other end is San Diego, which has scored eight runs in four games. "Thats something that can get a little bit overplayed," Gyorko said. "We have 700 at-bats coming so you cant look too much into things at this point." Garrett Jones also had an RBI double and Marcell Ozuna drove in a run for the Marlins. Hechavarria, known more for his dazzling defensive plays at shortstop, is hitting .579 after hitting .227 as a rookie last season. "I was just disappointing in my performance last year, that was a driving force into me improving this year," Hechavarria said. Yonder Alonso and Gyorko drove in the runs for the Padres. "Its so big in this game to get into a rhythm and they had it going early and we didnt," Alonso said. NOTES: Grandal, a Miami native, reached base four times and had approximately 150 friends and family members in attendance. . Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Brandon Albert threw out the ceremonial first pitch. . Marlins 21-year old ace RHP Jose Fernandez (1-0, 1.50) will make his second start of the season on Saturday against Padres RHP Andrew Cashner (0-0, 1.50). ' ' '