BOSTON (AP) – The only thing that’s been able to stop Derek Lowe lately is a blister on his pitching thumb.

The Red Sox right-hander pitched 7 1-3 strong innings Sunday night, and David Ortiz hit a three-run homer to lead Boston to a 6-1 victory over Seattle – the fifth consecutive loss for the AL West-leading Mariners.

Lowe has allowed a total of three runs in his last three starts, but Boston lost his last game when he left a two-hit shutout after six innings because his thumb blistered up.

“I’m not the only person in the locker room who’s got something wrong,” Lowe said after Boston beat Seattle for the third consecutive game. “You’ve got to get over it because the team needs you to be healthy.”

The Red Sox have won four in a row 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.

“They’re playing well. We’re not playing our best,” Mariners manager Bob Melvin said. “But it’ll turn.”

Lowe (13-6) said he soaked his thumb in wax between starts and didn’t pitch off a mound since his last outing to give the thumb his chance to heal. 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.

“He has turned the corner from earlier in the season,” Boston manager Grady Little said. “Hopefully he can keep it going the rest of the way.”

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, whose fiance Mia Hamm helped the Washington Freedom win the WUSA women’s soccer championship earlier in the day, 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 2354EDT