SEATTLE -- Manny Ramirez homered and drove in two, Josh Beckett struck out nine and the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Sunday.

Ramirez hit his 19th home run of the season off Miguel Batista in the fifth as Boston won for the fourth time in five games. The Red Sox remained seven games ahead of the New York Yankees atop the AL East.

Beckett (14-5) had lost three of his four decisions since the All-Star break. But he repeatedly escaped trouble to join C.C. Sabathia and John Lackey for the AL lead in wins. Beckett allowed eight hits and walked two in 6 2-3 innings.

The Mariners lost for the second consecutive day but just the third time in nine games to fall 3 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Angels for the AL West lead.

Seattle got within 3-1 with two outs in the sixth on an RBI single by Jamie Burke. A third consecutive sellout crowd roaring as the Mariners appeared ready to rally, but Yuniesky Betancourt, Seattle's hitting hero of the week, grounded out to end the inning. It was the third time the Mariners stranded two runners against Beckett.

Boston sealed the game in the seventh. J.D. Drew's triple off Eric O'Flaherty scored David Ortiz, after the bullish slugger got his second stolen base of the season because no one covered second as catcher Burke's throw sailed into center field. Ortiz just stood on the base and laughed. Mike Lowell then scored Drew with a single to make it 5-1.

Beckett had seven strikeouts through three. But Seattle had chances against him.

Adrian Beltre stranded two runners with a groundout to end the first. Beltre and Ben Broussard, starting for the second consecutive game for woeful Richie Sexson, struck out to leave two more in the second. And with two on and two out in the third -- after second baseman Cora's sprawling, diving catch of a line drive by Burke -- Beckett picked Raul Ibanez off second base.

The Red Sox had nine baserunners in the first three innings as Batista (11-8) walked five, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch. But Boston led only 2-0.

Coco Crisp doubled to begin the game. After Ortiz walked with one out, Ramirez hit a drive to the warning track in center field. The ball went off the glove of Adam Jones, the Triple-A star who arrived Friday and was giving Ichiro Suzuki a day as designated hitter. Jones was given an error on the play, and Ramirez was awarded an RBI when Crisp scored.

Batista then walked Jason Varitek on five pitches with the bases loaded to make it 2-0. But Alex Cora lined out to end the inning.

Crisp hit another double with one out in the second. Batista then hit Kevin Youkilis with a pitch and walked Ortiz to load the bases again. But Ramirez hit into a double play.

Crisp also made a running, diving catch in center field on a sinking liner by Jose Vidro in the seventh. Crisp made it 6-1 with a sacrifice fly in Boston's three-run seventh and 9-1 when he singled and then scored on a double by Dustin Pedroia in the ninth.

The only bad part of his day? He got clipped exiting the dugout in the middle of the fifth inning by an all-terrain vehicle driven by Seattle's mascot, "Mariner Moose." Crisp was knocked down, but dusted himself off and feigned anger by cocking his arm as if he was going to throw his glove at his assailant.

Batista allowed three runs -- two earned -- and five hits in six laborious innings. He struck out three. The Red Sox then scored six runs off four Seattle relievers after he left.