Julio Lugo, left, celebrates with Coco Crisp after Crisp hit a two-run homer in the second inning.

AP / Tom Mihalek

PHILADELPHIA — The recipe was simple.

Outstanding starting pitching. One productive long ball. A manufactured run. Stolen bases. Solid defense. Effective relief pitching.

All of it added up nicely for the Boston Red Sox in their tidy 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in an interleague game between division leaders last night at Citizens Bank Park.

Coco Crisp provided the big bomb, a two-run homer to left-center off the ageless Jamie Moyer in the second, and he tallied the Sox’ other run after he singled, swiped two of Boston’s record-tying six stolen bases and romped home on a two-out double by Julio Lugo in the sixth.

That was plenty of offense for Jon Lester, who blanked the Phillies on five hits over seven efficient innings before Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon (20th save) finished up with a scoreless inning apiece. Papelbon was dazzling, whiffing Ryan Howard (97 mph fastball), Pat Burrell (95) and Jayson Werth (95).

“We have the full package here,” said Crisp of the team’s ability to excel in all facets of the game.

Lester was impressive. He pounded the strike zone and, thanks to the aggressiveness of the Phillies, was able to get some outs early in the count. Indeed, six Philadelphia at-bats ended after one pitch, and there were five two-pitch at-bats, enabling Lester to keep his pitch count down.

He was lifted after throwing 99 pitches in his seven innings. Lester, who has had command troubles, walked only one, fanned five and didn’t permit a runner to reach third base.

Lester had to work out of only two jams. In the second, the Phillies had runners at first and second with one out, but he got Carlos Ruiz to ground into an inning-ending double play. And in the seventh, after a pair of two-out singles, he once again got Ruiz on a ground ball, turned into a forceout at third.

He was especially effective against the middle of the Phillies’ lineup. Lester easily retired MVP candidate Chase Utley three times, fanned slugger Howard all three times he faced him, and he punched out Burrell twice.

“He made quality pitches against guys in the middle of the order who can hit the ball out of the ballpark,” said manager Terry Francona. “He’s growing up as a major-league pitcher. He’s working quicker, throwing strikes. You’re seeing a maturing pitcher. He has more confidence. He should be confident because he’s got a lot of ways to get guys out.”

Lester said he was able to follow his game plan.

“I just tried to keep them off balance the best I could,” said Lester, who improved to 6-3. “The objective early was to establish something soft [off-speed pitches], stay out of their bat path and get them off my fastball.”

He has been pleased with his progress.

“I have better command of my stuff,” said Lester. “I’m able to throw any pitch at any time in the count.”

There was some major-league leather thrown behind Lester, too, as he acknowledged.

Third baseman Mike Lowell and first baseman Sean Casey each made multiple plays on defense.

Lowell reacted quickly in elevating for pinch hitter So Taguchi’s laser in the fifth. His best play, though, came one inning later when he turned a double play with almost a middle-infielder, pivotman’s turn. With the speedy Jimmy Rollins on first base after a leadoff walk, Lowell gloved Shane Victorino’s liner and as he caught the ball, in virtually the same motion with his feet planted perfectly, fired a strike to Casey, doubling off Rollins.

Casey’s gems weren’t quite as highlight-reel caliber, but were important. In the fifth, some nifty footwork by Casey saved a tailing throw from Lowell. And in the sixth, Casey roamed to the railing and, leaning slightly over it, hauled in a foul popup.

Not that Lester needed that much help the way he was throwing. But he did need at least a little offense, and Crisp was the Sox’ main man last night, homering in his third straight game, the first time in his career he has done that.

Where has the power come from lately?

“You mean besides the parks we’ve been playing in?” asked Crisp, who hit his other two homers on the trip in Cincinnati, in another hitter-friendly park. “If I was in Fenway I don’t think any of the three would have gone out. But we weren’t there. [Tonight] we were here. I have to take advantage [of the small parks], and I took a good swing.”

Indeed, it was all good last night for the Sox, who lead the American League East.

“We have an all-around team,” said Crisp.

The Phillies, who lead the National League East, couldn’t help but notice.

skrasner@projo.com