Seattle, WA (Best E Casino) - Mike Lowell drove in the go-ahead runs in the top of the 12th inning and the Boston Red Sox held off a late charge from the Seattle Mariners to win, 6-3, and complete a three-game sweep at Safeco Field.

Boston starter Clay Buchholz allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings, but did not receive a decision. Jonathan Papelbon (4-3) pitched a scoreless 11th to get the win, while Craig Hansen overcame a shaky performance in the 12th to nail down his second save.

Kevin Youkilis was 2-for-6 with a run batted in and two runs scored for Boston, which recovered after dropping three straight to the Angels to start the second half and swept the M's for the first time since a four-game set from August 22-25, 2003 at Fenway Park. Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-5 with a walk and run scored. The all-star second baseman has now hit safely in each of his last 24 road games.

Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez missed the contest due to a sore right knee.

Boston remains a half game behind Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East after the Rays defeated the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, earlier Wednesday.

Jose Vidro finished 3-for-5 with a walk and a two-run homer for Seattle, which has dropped five in a row. Raul Ibanez hit a solo home run, while Jose Lopez went 2-for-6 and scored a run.

Felix Hernandez gave up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits with six strikeouts and five walks in six innings of a no-decision. Sean Green (2-3) was touched for three runs -- two earned -- in 1 1/3 innings to take the loss.

With the game locked at three, the Mariners had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the 11th. Papelbon started the inning for Boston and promptly served up an infield single to Vidro. After Adrian Beltre went down on strikes, Yuniesky Betancourt lined a single to right to put runners on the corners. Papelbon then induced a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play from Kenji Johjima to send the game to the 12th, where Boston erupted for three runs.

Jacoby Ellsbury had a lead-off single and J.D. Drew was intentionally walked with one away. Willie Bloomquist then misplayed a fly ball off the bat of Youkilis to load the bases for Lowell, who delivered with a two-run single that chased Green from the mound. Cesar Jimenez came on from the bullpen and Sean Casey greeted him with a run-scoring single for a 6-3 edge. Jimenez retired Jed Lowrie and Jason Varitek, but the damage had already been done.

"I flat out missed it," Bloomquist said on dropping the ball. "I can't sit here and make an excuse. It's a ball I should have caught."

With one gone in the home half, Bloomquist reached on an infield single. Lopez then stroked a two-out single and a walk to Ibanez loaded the bases, but Hansen retired Vidro on a dribbler to close out the game.

The Red Sox opened the scoring in the third. After hitting a lead-off single, Coco Crisp advanced to second on a one-out knock by Pedroia. After Ichiro Suzuki made a leaping catch up against the right field wall to rob Drew of a home run, Youkilis sliced an RBI single that got behind Suzuki, which allowed another runner to cross the plate.

Seattle got a run back in the fourth on Ibanez's 14th home run of the season, a lead-off shot to right-center.

The Red Sox loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the sixth on singles by Youkilis, Lowell and a walk to Casey. Hernandez then fanned Lowrie and Varitek, but walked Crisp on four straight pitches to force in a run. Ellsbury popped out to first baseman Bryan LaHair in foul territory to end the inning.

Lopez singled to open the bottom half and, after Ibanez went down swinging, Vidro launched a 2-0 fastball over the wall in right, tying the game at three.

Game Notes

It was the first time Boston swept the Mariners in Seattle since a three-game series from July 2-4, 1993...Boston's Justin Masterson retired all eight batters he faced...Seattle's J.J. Putz tossed two innings of one-hit ball in relief...Brandon Morrow also hurled two scoreless innings for Seattle...Lopez has hit safely in 11 straight games, matching his career-high set earlier this season (April 19-May 1)...Boston won the season series, 5-4...The Mariners played the 5,000th regular-season game in club history...The Red Sox will open a three-game set at home against the New York Yankees on Friday... Seattle begins a three-game series Friday in Toronto.