The Angels have started a 10-game road trip with five straight losses.
One night after putting up 17 runs in the series opener, the Red Sox were quiet until the eighth, when they scored four times to turn a 1-1 game into a 5-1 blowout.
Lester (2-2) gave up one run, walking two and striking out five before Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth in a non-save situation. Marco Scutaro had three hits, including a pair of doubles, to help the Red Sox win their second in a row since being swept over the weekend by the lowly Baltimore Orioles.
Kevin Jepsen (0-1) took the loss for the Angels, giving up four runs on two hits and three walks while getting just two outs in the eighth.
Mike Napoli had three of the Angels' five hits. Ervin Santana got his third straight no-decision despite allowing just one run in seven innings.
Los Angeles loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but Lester got out of it when Bobby Abreu hit a grounder to second baseman Dustin Pedroia and he chased down the runner to tag him before throwing to first to end the inning.
In the bottom half, Boston loaded the bases with nobody out before David Ortiz hit into a second-to-home-to-first double play. After Jepsen walked his third batter of the inning, Hermida one-hopped a double off the Green Monster to make it 4-1.
Pinch-hitter Mike Lowell doubled off Scot Shields to score Hermida.
Ortiz finished hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts and two double plays.
Lester gave up seven runs in an April 18 loss to Tampa Bay, but he didn't allow a run in the two starts since then. He retired the first seven batters easily, and then got an inning-ending play after Napoli singled in the third.
But the shutout string ended at 16 2/3 innings when Erick Aybar walked to lead off the fourth inning, then took third on Torii Hunter's double. Kendry Morales hit a bouncer into the hole on the left side of the infield, but shortstop Marco Scutaro went into the outfield to get it and threw to first in time to get the batter.
Hideki Matsui grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
Notes
Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (bruised left side) hit in a group for live batting practice for the first time since colliding with Adrian Beltre on April 11. … Manager Terry Francona said RHP Clay Buchholz was not seriously injured by a line drive off his foot in Monday night's win. … RHP Boof Bonser is scheduled to make a rehab appearance for Triple A Pawtucket on Friday. … Torii Hunter made a highlight-reel catch on Kevin Youkilis in the third inning, looking over his left shoulder, then his right, before snow-coning the ball.