The Red Sox have won three in a row against Seattle and four straight overall since falling a season-high 71/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East. Boston is five games behind New York in the division and tied with Oakland in the wild-card race.

Seattle has watched its lead fall to one game over the Athletics in the AL West. The Mariners, looking to avoid a sweep Monday, will have to face Boston ace Pedro Martinez, who was moved up a day in the rotation after missing his previous start with a sore throat and fever.

Lowe (13-6) showed no ill-effects of the blister that forced him to leave his last start. He allowed one run on five hits and five walks, striking out four before leaving after giving up back-to-back walks with one out in the eighth.

Ryan Franklin (9-11) allowed six runs on 11 hits and four walks, striking out one in six innings. John Olerud reached base three times, and John Mabry doubled and scored Seattle’s only run in the sixth on Dan Wilson’s double-play ball.

Nomar Garciaparra singled three times for Boston.

The Red Sox scored one run in the third on Kevin Millar’s RBI groundout and added five more in the fourth.

Bill Mueller led off with a double and, one out later, Johnny Damon, Todd Walker and Garciaparra all singled. Manny Ramirez hit a 410-foot out to center field, but Ortiz followed with one that was plenty long enough to clear the wall.

Notes: Mariners DH Edgar Martinez was out of the lineup with a sore toe on his left foot that he injured when it was hit with a foul ball. X-rays were negative and he is day-to-day.

… Seattle has posted a winning record at Fenway Park just once in the last 17 years. … Seattle C Dan Wilson struck out in the third – his first strikeout in his last 35 plate appearances. It had been the longest such streak in the majors. … Ortiz needs one more homer to match a career high of 20. … Millar has three stolen bases. He had one in his career before coming to Boston. … The crowd of 34,344 was the 43rd sellout of the season and 33rd in a row.

AP-ES-08-24-03 2254EDT