Red Sox Notes: Boston’s Team Win Possible Blueprint For Rest Of Season

BOSTON -- The Red Sox offense exploded for 12 runs and got solid pitching from Brayan Bello, Brennan Bernardino and Josh Winckowski for an all-around complete-team victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on Monday.

"Maybe this is the way we play the rest of the season," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after the game. "Kind of like platoon the rest of the way and try to maximize the roster. Be aggressive with pinch hitters and all that, and see where it takes us. We're right there. Still right there. They show up every day. They work hard, and they did an amazing job offensively today."

Bello surrendered the first run of the game in the first inning after allowing a leadoff double to Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander knocked him in with a single two batters later. Bello got out of a jam in the same inning after striking out two batters with the bases loaded to end Baltimore's threat.

"He made some big pitches," Cora said of Bello. "The first inning, he was way off command-wise. That's something we talked about right before the game. His stuff has been really good throughout the season. The difference is the command of his pitches. When he's commanding, he's really good. When he's struggling, that happens. But he made some big pitches."

The 25-year-old earned his 13th win of the season, surrendering two runs on three hits while striking out five Baltimore batters across 5 1/3 innings.

Boston's offense was led by Rob Refsnyder, Tyler O'Neill and Ceddanne Rafaela, who combined for nine of the Red Sox's 15 hits and all of the the runs scored.

"It was good to come out and score a bunch of runs," O'Neill said after the game. "Our bats were alive all night up and down the lineup. It was a good collective effort for sure."

O'Neill added: "I think it started in the top of the first with Bello baring down and stranding some runners out there. That was really awesome to see. We were able to get in the bottom of the first and start to get a couple hits together. Get a run back on the board. Just good for the momentum. Good for the dugout. Good for the attitude collectively. We were able to keep things rolling from there."

Here are more notes from Monday's Red Sox-Orioles Game:

-- Refsnyder and O'Neill hit back-to-back home runs twice in the win, becoming the first Red Sox duo since Mo Vaughn and Tim Naehring accomplished the feat in 1994. It was just the second time in franchise history a pair of teammates recorded back-to-back home runs in the same game.

-- Rafael Devers went 3-for-5 from the plate and scored two runs in the win. Refsnyder believes the Red Sox can build off the win.

"All the guys really want it. Hopefully, tonight, can kind of build off of that and build some confidence," Refsnyder said. "Guys really like each other. Guys are talking during the game, after the game, before the game. It's good to see Raffy hit the ball hard tonight. If Raffy goes, our whole team goes. That's how we feel."

-- With the Minnesota Twins losing to the Los Angeles Angels, the Red Sox sit three games back for the final American League wild card spot.

"I think we're in a good position," O'Neill said. "It's all about momentum. This time of year it feels like things are coming together. Pitching has been looking a lot better. ... Anything can happen over the last couple of weeks. That's what it's all about; playing meaningful baseball in September and hopefully into October."

-- The Red Sox and Orioles will take the field again at Fenway Park on Tuesday. Kutter Crawford and Albert Suárez are slated to oppose one another on the mound. First pitch from Fenway is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET., and you can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.