SEATTLE (AP) – Richie Sexson hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to give Seattle its third and final lead, and the Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox 8-7 on Tuesday night.

The Mariners also got a homer from Willie Bloomquist and overcame yet another shaky start by Felix Hernandez to win for the sixth time in seven games. They beat Boston for the seventh consecutive time in Seattle.

Boston lost for the third time in four games despite Kevin Youkilis’ three RBIs. Its previously strong pitching has allowed 17 runs in the first two games of the series.

Sexson’s home run to the opposite field off Javier Lopez was his fifth in eight games on Seattle’s homestand. It also was the first home run Lopez (1-1) had allowed in 27 appearances.

Brandon Morrow began the eighth by walking Coco Crisp, and Dustin Pedroia singled. George Sherrill struck out David Ortiz, who slapped his knee twice in frustration after swinging under a high fastball. Youkilis, who twice drove in Crisp with singles, hit a sacrifice fly off closer J.J. Putz to make it 8-7. Pinch-runner Julio Lugo stole second, but J.D. Drew grounded out.

Putz fanned Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek and pinch-hitter Manny Ramirez in the ninth for his 22nd save in 22 chances, the longest current streak in the majors.

An RBI single by Bloomquist and a run-scoring sacrifice fly by Ichiro Suzuki gave Seattle a 6-4 lead in the fifth. But Eric Hinske, playing because Ramirez did not start for only the third time in 76 games, answered in the Boston sixth with a homer off the facing of the second deck beyond right field to make it 6-5.

Alex Cora, starting because Lugo is in an 0-for-29 slump, doubled. After a sacrifice and a groundout, Hernandez gave way to Eric O’Flaherty (5-0). Ortiz sliced a single off him that tied the game.

Hernandez allowed six runs and 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings, the third time in five starts he’s given up at least that many hits. He struck out four, walked one and banged his hand to his glove about a dozen times in frustration. It was far from the masterful one-hitter he threw in Boston for a second consecutive scoreless outing on April 11, the start to which many Seattle fans keep comparing Hernandez – unfavorably.

He is 2-4 with a 5.75 ERA in nine starts since, including the brief one April 18 in which he strained his forearm. He then spent almost a month on the disabled list.

Hernandez hung a curveball in the fifth that Lowell tagged for a two-run triple that tied the score at 4.

Kason Gabbard, called up before the game from Triple-A to replace injured Curt Schilling, allowed four runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings for Boston. Three of those runs came on one hit in the first. He walked three in the inning, including Jose Guillen and Adrian Beltre with the bases loaded. That was immediately after Gabbard hit Kenji Johjima with a 1-2 pitch, also with the bases loaded.

Bloomquist made it 4-1 when he led off the second with a home run over the bench at the back of Boston’s bullpen far beyond left field. It was the second homer of the season but first over a fence for Bloomquist, who hit an inside-the-park shot at Houston on June 15.

Notes: Bloomquist homered for the sixth time in 1,000 career at-bats. … Gabbard’s six walks tied Boston’s season high by a starter. … The Red Sox optioned OF David Murphy to Triple-A Pawtucket.