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Lester works nine, Red Sox sink Mariners

May 15, 2012 - 6:33 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jon Lester went the distance and Daniel Nava belted a two-run home run as Boston continued its roll with a 6-1 decision over Seattle in the first of two between the clubs at Fenway Park.

Kelly Shoppach added a solo homer, while David Ortiz, Adrian Gonzalez and Marlon Byrd drove in a run apiece for the Red Sox, who have won four in a row.

Lester (2-3) allowed eight hits and one run, fanning six without issuing a walk for his first win in three starts.

"Obviously you want to go nine every time you go out there," said Lester. "That's your goal, to stand out there (at the end) and watch everybody run in and give them high-fives. You feel like all the work you put in that week is for a reason."

Jason Vargas (4-3) was charged with seven hits and five runs over six full frames for the Mariners, who slipped to 1-3 on their current 10-game road swing.

In the home first, Ortiz doubled home Dustin Pedroia and Gonzalez followed with another two-bagger to plate Ortiz.

The Sox lead was boosted to 5-0 in the fourth. Cody Ross hit a leadoff single and Nava barely cleared the Green Monster. Shoppach then launched a one-out solo shot beyond the seats in left center.

Will Middlebrooks' one-out base hit in the eighth turned into Boston's sixth run after a Ross double and Byrd sacrifice fly to right.

Lester labored in the ninth. At 99 pitches, it took 20 more to finish off the contest. Ichiro Suzuki led off with a hit, Justin Smoak moved him to third with a one-out double and Kyle Seager's groundout scored the run. Alex Liddi fanned swinging to end things.

"Lester threw a good ball game," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "We hit some balls hard for outs and a couple of our guys had some good at-bats tonight, but nothing with really any damage behind it."

Game Notes

Monday marked Lester's first nine-inning complete-game victory since June 27, 2010 at San Francisco, a 5-1 win...The 2012 National Champion Boston College men's hockey team threw a ceremonial first pitch...Pedroia finished 0-for-3 and ended his 14-game hit streak...This was also the first time all season (nine starts) that Vargas allowed more than four earned runs.