Seattle ? Until this season, Jason Vargas had never tossed more than 100 major-league innings in a season, and that came a year ago, when he was in his first year back from hip surgery.

The question that keeps popping up about Vargas’ ability to continually churn out innings as the season wears on is starting to get a little grating to the Mariners lefty.

“That seems to be a question every week, and I think every week I prepare myself to do the same thing,” Vargas said. “Physically, I feel fine.”

Vargas allowed one run in six solid innings to win his seventh game at home, and Casey Kotchman’s two-run single in the sixth gave Seattle the lead for good in the Mariners’ 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Vargas (8-5) improved to 7-2 at Safeco Field this season, taking a shutout into the sixth inning.

Seattle took two of three from the Royals, winning its first series since taking two of three from the New York Yankees from June 29-July 1 earlier this season.