enlarge The Associated Press

Jon Lester pitched eight innings Tuesday night for the Red Sox, allowing one hit and striking out six. He walked four but also induced a pair of double-play grounders.

TODAY'S GAME

WHO: Red Sox (Matsuzaka 4-0) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (McGowan 1-2)

WHEN: 7:05 p.m.

WHERE: Fenway Park

TELEVISION: NESN

BOSTON — Jon Lester pitched brilliantly. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia made the play of the night. And Kevin Youkilis singled in the winning run in the ninth inning Tuesday night as the Boston Red Sox ended a five-game losing streak, topping the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 at Fenway Park.

Boston (16-12) finally got the breaks against a team that has had few of them. Toronto (11-16), which ended a six-game slide Sunday, has dropped 10 of its last 13 games.

Lester and Roy Halladay (2-4) locked into a classic duel until Lester exited after eight innings, giving way to closer Jonathan Papelbon (1-0).

Papelbon got out of a jam when Pedroia made a diving stop on Vernon Wells' hard bouncer up the middle, keeping a run from scoring.

"It's the play that won us the game," Papelbon said.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, David Ortiz walked, Manny Ramirez singled and Youkilis scored Ortiz with a liner up the middle.

"(Youkilis) is in a pretty good groove," said Boston Manager Terry Francona, who kept Youkilis in the No. 5 spot even with the return of Mike Lowell from a thumb injury.

Lester mixed up his fastball, cutter and change-up to record six strikeouts. He allowed only one hit, a Lyle Overbay line-drive single just over the reach of a leaping Pedroia.

"The further I get into games, the more comfortable I feel with my stuff," Lester said.

Lester has had control problems and he did walk four. But no runner reached second and two were erased with double-play grounders.

"When he did walk somebody, he reeled it back in right away," Francona said. "He got back to locating, and it wasn't first and second with nobody out, which we've run into a few times."

Halladay gave up five hits and one walk. He pitched his fourth straight complete game but he's lost the last three.

In the ninth, Papelbon struck out Alex Rios and pinch-hitter Matt Stairs, then went 0-2 on Scott Rolen, who then tagged a high fastball to left-center for a double.

Wells followed with a hard bouncer up the middle. Pedroia made a diving stop and threw Wells out.

"He just wills himself to make plays," Francona said. "It's nice to have him on your side."

In the bottom of the ninth, Halladay retired two straight batters. Ortiz then crushed a 2-0 fastball to right, but foul. Halladay pitched carefully and walked Ortiz. Ramirez then lined a single to center.

Youkilis did the same. Ortiz hustled around third. It looked like he would score safely. Wells assured that when he bobbled the ball.

NOTES: To make room for Lowell on the roster, the Red Sox again designated reliever Bryan Corey for assignment. Brandon Moss replaced J.D. Drew, who felt tightness in his left quadriceps muscle when he grounded out in the second inning. Pedroia jammed his shoulder slightly on his great play in the ninth. Francona said he might have pinch-ran Jed Lowrie for Ortiz in the ninth, but he feared Lowrie might have to sub for Pedroia if the game went extra innings. Of Boston's 15 groundouts, 10 went to shortstop David Eckstein.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com