BOSTON –– Jon Lester didn’t figure in the decision on Sunday, but he kept the game close when it could have gotten out of hand.

The southpaw finished 6 2/3 innings of work and allowed four runs (one earned) on eight hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. Lester threw 122 pitches (82 strikes), which is his second-highest total of his career.

He was cruising with a 2-0 lead - thanks to first-inning solo home runs by Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz -- until a three-run triple by the Mariners’ Ronny Cedeno caused a bit of havoc in the top of the fourth.

 "He threw the ball really well," said batterymate Jason Varitek. "He kept damage to a minimum and allowed us to put it away."

 Lester allowed back-to-back singles to lead off the inning before he recorded a strikeout. He was able to get a ground ball to third for a possible double play, but Pedroia dropped the feed from Kevin Youkilis, allowing everyone to be safe.

 Lester struck out Chris Woodward, but with the bases loaded and two outs, Cedeno lifted a fly ball down the right-field line. Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew raced toward the wall and attempted a sliding catch. The ball landed well beyond his reach in front of Pesky’s Pole and trickled into the corner.

 Lester worked out of the jam and finished strong, despite giving up another run in the fifth inning.

 "I felt good. I felt like I had really good stuff today," said Lester. "There were only two hard-hit balls all day - the ball [Ken] Griffey hit off the wall and [Russell] Branyan in the first inning."

 Lester has limited opponents to three earned runs or less in each of his last seven starts, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.74 ERA during this stretch.

 "I feel good. There have been some bumps and bruises along the way, but that’s to be expected. I’ll keep grinding and this All-Star break coming up will be definitely needed and it’ll help out moving forward."

3 homers for Boston

The Red Sox belted three home runs in the game, all solo shots. Pedroia hit his third homer of the season in the first inning. He now has one homer on Opening Day, another on May 31 and Sunday’s blast, which bounced off a sign high above the Monster Seats in left field. He has yet to homer on the road this season. Pedroia added a double and a single for his 12th three-hit game of the season.

 Pedroia hit 17 home runs during his MVP season of 2008, but he doesn’t see himself as a homer type of player. "I’m not a home-run hitter," he said. "I’ll hit around 10 all year, or hit home runs by accident."

 Ortiz followed Pedroia’s blast with one of his own in the first inning. His homer sailed over the bullpen in right field. Ortiz had just one home run in his first 49 games but he now has eight in the last 25 and four in his last 12 games.

 Jacoby Ellsbury hit his fifth home run in the sixth inning. He’s hit safely in the last six games, going 9-for-24 (.375). He’s accomplished most of that damage hitting seventh in the batting order. He’s hit first, second, sixth, seventh and eighth this year.

 "I don’t worry about that too much. Wherever they put me, that will take care of itself," said Ellsbury.

 As a leadoff hitter, Ellsbury said he frequently looks to work pitchers for walks to get on base. When he hits lower in the lineup, he’s more aggressive.

 "When I’m aggressive, I’m a better hitter," he said. "If you’re swinging at good pitches, you’ll see good results. You can be aggressive but aggressive in the (strike) zone."

Lowrie to Portland

Shortstop Jed Lowrie, who has been on the disabled list since April 12 with a left-wrist sprain, was scheduled to start for the PawSox in the first game of their doubleheader at Scranton-Wilkes/Barre on Sunday.

 Due to poor field conditions, the game was postponed.

 The Red Sox decided to ship Lowrie to Double-A Portland to continue his rehab.

The Sea Dogs are playing the Fisher Cats in Manchester, N.H., on Monday.

 Kotsay bruised

Red Sox utility man Mark Kotsay was walking around the clubhouse with an ice pack on his right calf after Sunday’s victory over the Mariners. He said he aggravated it making a defensive play in Baltimore a few days ago.

 "It won’t leave me along," he said. "Hopefully I can grind it through the All-Star break."

 Kotsay originally suffered the calf injury while rehabbing from back surgery with the PawSox earlier this season. It’s the same muscle, just in a different spot this time.

Rhode Island Day

It was Rhode Island Day at Fenway Park Sunday and a slew of the state’s residents took part in the festivies throughout the day.

 With Red Sox senior adviser (and Providence native) Jeremy Kapstein serving as host, kids from the St. Mary’s Home for Children received tickets to the game and yelled out `Play Ball’ before the game. Stephanie Johnson of Warwick sang the National Anthem, Jennifer Ando of Lincoln and Ted Schmidt of Saunderstown threw out the first pitch, David Tyler of Richmond sang God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch and the Cumberland Police Department presented the colors before the game. Kapstein, who celebrated a birthday this weekend, joined the Red Sox radio team during the third inning.

Lowell recovering

Third baseman Mike Lowell will begin baseball-related activities on Monday, including tee work. He’s been on the disabled list since June 28 with a strain in his surgically repaired right hip. He was in the clubhouse Sunday afternoon and reports that he’s feeling good after receiving an injection last Monday.

Bailey to the DL?

It appears Jeff Bailey has suffered a high-ankle sprain and there’s a possibility he could go on the disabled list.