Local favorite Jon Lester carried a shutout into the eighth inning, struggling Jason Varitek rewarded his manager’s faith with a two-run homer and the road-weary Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 4-0 Monday night.

Lester, who was born in nearby Tacoma and starred at that city’s Bellarmine Prep high school, allowed eight hits in 7 1-3 innings _ the final one a hard one-hopper off his right shin. He left the game with a trainer and the bases loaded but did not appear injured while watching from the bench as Jonathan Papelbon got Raul Ibanez to ground into a double play.