Bronx, NY -- (Sports Network) - Jon Lester threw a complete game gem, while Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Lowell both drove in two runs, and the Boston Red Sox shut down the New York Yankees, 7-0, in the opener of a four-game set from Yankee Stadium.

Lester (7-3) scattered five hits throughout his time on the mound and struck out eight, while walking only two batters. Jason Varitek and Julio Lugo both had an RBI for the Red Sox, who snapped a five-game skid.

"You're thinking before the game you want to give your team a chance to win," Lester said. "The guys made some plays tonight, it was a great team win, which we needed."

Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera each had two hits for the Yankees, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Andy Pettitte (9-6) took the loss as he was touched for six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.

"There's a lot of pride here," Johnny Damon said. "There's many media outlets talking about what's wrong with the Yankees. It's embarrassing. We're not playing up to our expectations. We got to do something soon."

The Sox wasted no time in getting on the board. Dustin Pedroia and J.D. Drew were on first and second with one out in the first, before Manny Ramirez grounded into what looked like an inning-ending double play.

Derek Jeter recorded the out at second but botched the throw to first, sailing the ball wide of a stretched out Wilson Betemit, plating Pedroia and moving Ramirez to second. Lowell followed with an RBI single, and Boston held a 2-0 lead.

Boston tacked on two more runs in the second. Coco Crisp singled and Varitek walked before Lugo made it second and third with a sac bunt. Ellsbury then clubbed a two-run double down the first base line to give the Sox a 4-0 cushion.

Crisp led the fourth off with a single, stole second, moved to third as Varitek grounded out and came home on Lugo's sac fly.

Boston made it 6-0 in the fifth inning. Drew belted a one-out double to right, moved to third on Ramirez's single and crossed home as Lowell offered a sac fly.

LaTroy Hawkins was called on in the eighth to replace Dan Giese on the mound for New York. He gave up a one-out single to Kevin Youkilis, walked Crisp and yielded an RBI single to Varitek, and the Sox went ahead 7-0.

Game Notes

Thursday's game was the first meeting between these two bitter rivals in which neither club is in first place in the AL East after July 1 since September of 1997...Pedroia extended his hit streak to 11 games...Lester's season-high for strikeouts is nine...Ramirez went 1-for-3, snapping an 0-for-12 streak. Varitek also went 1-for-3, snapping an 0-for-19 slump...The 4 2/3 is the second shortest outing for Pettitte this year, as the lefty lasted just four innings on May 12 against Tampa Bay. Pettitte also was undefeated in eight starts prior to Thursday's setback...Boston owns a 4-2 edge over New York in this year's season series.