Jon Lester pitched seven overpowering innings, lifting the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and a sweep of their three-game series Wednesday.

Lester (1-2), who entered the game with a 6.23 ERA, dominated the Blue Jays lineup, allowing just a second-inning double to Vernon Wells and striking out a season-high 11.

The left-hander set down 14 straight batters at one point and was relieved by Daniel Bard to start the eighth after his pitch count reached 119.

Bard struck out the side in the eighth and closer Jonathan Papelbon breezed through the ninth for his second save of the series and seventh in as many chances this season as Boston climbed back to .500 after a 4-9 start.

Brett Cecil (1-1), making his second start of the season, was a hard-luck loser for the reeling Blue Jays, who endured their fifth consecutive defeat.

Cecil matched Lester pitch-for-pitch through six innings. The left-hander allowed just the one run on five hits while striking out three and walking one.

Boston got the only run it needed when Dustin Pedroia's sixth-inning sacrifice fly plated Darnell McDonald, who doubled and moved to third on a single by Marco Scutaro.