Seattle ? Bruce Chen scattered three hits over seven innings, and the Kansas City Royals held off the Seattle Mariners, 2-1, on Saturday night.

Seattle shortstop Jack Wilson reaches for a high throw as Kansas City’s Gregor Blanco steals second base in the first inning on Saturday in Seattle.

Chen (7-5) yielded a solo home run to Russell Branyan along with a pair of harmless singles. He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter in his second-longest outing this season.

He is now 3-0 with a 2.27 ERA in six career starts against Seattle.

Blake Wood worked a scoreless eighth, and Joakim Soria finished it with a little drama in the ninth. Chone Figgins opened with a single and moved to second on a fielder’s choice. Soria then struck out Branyan and Franklin Gutierrez.

Kansas City pitcher Bruce Chen throws in the second inning against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday in Seattle.

Soria picked up his 31st save in 33 opportunities. His 31 saves matches Tampa Bay’s Rafael Soriano for the most in the American League.

The Royals scored their runs in the second off David Pauley (0-4). Mitch Maier and Mike Aviles reached on one-out singles. Chris Getz sent Maier home with a single to center, and Aviles scored on Gregor Blanco’s fielder’s choice.

Pauley went 51?3 innings, allowing five hits and two runs. He walked three and struck out four.

Branyan made it a one-run game with a first-pitch home run off Chen in the fourth, his 14th, to deep center field.

The Royals rallied in the sixth as Alex Gordon singled with one out, and Maier reached on an error. Sean White replaced Pauley. Aviles followed with a line drive with a promise of a two-run double, but third baseman Jose Lopez leaped to bring down. He then tossed to second to double up Gordon, ending the threat.