Mariners 4, Red Sox 1: Jason Vargas pitched seven strong innings and host Seattle scored four runs in the fourth to deal hapless Boston a seventh straight setback.

John Jaso, Justin Smoak and Carlos Peguero each drove in a run for the Mariners, who have won back-to-back games to pull within four games of .500 (66-70). The Red Sox dropped a season-low 12 games below .500 (62-74).

Seattle did its damage against Clay Buchholz (11-5) in the fourth as the first four batters reached. Franklin Gutierrez led off with a single and Kyle Seagar was grazed by a pitch before Jaso and Smoak sent back-to-back RBI singles to right to give the Mariners the lead.

Jaso scored from third on Jacoby Ellsbury's throwing error after Eric Thames' fly out to center field and an error on rookie shortstop Jose Iglesias on a fielder's choice grounder by Peguero allowed the last run to cross.

Vargas (14-9) surrendered a run in the first on Cody Ross’ RBI single but shut Boston down the rest of the way. The veteran left-hander yielded six hits and did not walk a batter while striking out five to snap a three-start winless streak.

Josh Kinney worked the eighth and Tom Wilhelmsen pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Buchholz was charged with four runs (three earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out eight in seven innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Boston has been outscored 58-16 in the first seven games of its nine-game road trip. … Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 14 games and recorded his 1,000th career hit with a ground-rule double in the first. He finished 2-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases. … INF Ivan De Jesus and RHP Chris Carpenter made their debuts for Boston, becoming the 54th and 55th players to appear in a game for the Red Sox this season. De Jesus came over as part of the Adrian Gonzalez trade with the Dodgers and Carpenter came to the organization from the Chicago Cubs last winter as compensation for former general manager Theo Epstein. … Mariners OF Michael Saunders (groin) sat out for the ninth time in the last 10 games.