Red Sox feeling optimistic after huge win over Orioles: 'We're right there'

Even manager Alex Cora is somewhat surprised by how his Boston Red Sox have kept pace in the AL playoff race over the last week.

"We're right there. Still right there. I don't know how," Cora said after his team's 12-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. "They show up every day. They work hard, and they did an amazing job offensively today."

Boston's inconsistency over the course of the season, and especially during the last few months, appeared to doom its playoff hopes. The team has gone 16-20 since Aug. 1 and was in a particularly steep slide entering September that pushed it even further away from contention. A critical loss to the Mets last week prompted Cora to admit that the team was "running out of time."

But Boston managed to even itself out in the week since Cora's warning. The Red Sox have won four of their last seven to stay within three games of the slumping Minnesota Twins for the final AL wild-card spot. Boston is now in a dogfight with the Tigers and Mariners, who are all tied at 73-71 while trying to catch Minnesota.

Everything went right for the Red Sox offense Monday. Rob Refsnyder and Tyler O'Neill hit back-to-back homers twice during their beatdown of Baltimore. Refsnyder was a perfect 4-for-4 and reached base in all five of his plate appearances, while O'Neill and Rafael Devers each had three hits and Ceddanne Rafaela drove in four.

The pitching staff also did its part to shut down an excellent Orioles offense. Starter Brayan Bello worked around five walks and finished his day with five strikeouts and just two runs allowed before ceding to relievers Brennan Bernardino and Josh Winckowski.

Although they're still facing an uphill battle, Monday's win provided the Red Sox with some much-needed optimism heading into the final stretch.

"(Three) games back, but I think we're in a good position," O'Neill said. "It's all about momentum this time of year. Feels like things are coming together. Pitching has been looking a lot better. Big game like this for the offense is good just for everybody.

"So, you know, anything can happen over the last couple weeks. And that's what it's all about, playing meaningful baseball in September and hopefully into October. We'll see where it goes."