Are the Red Sox finding the best version of themselves at just the right time?

Tyler O'Neill capped his memorable night with a memorable quote.

"[Three] games back, but I think we’re in a good position,” O’Neill said after the Red Sox' 12-3 win over the Orioles Monday night at Fenway Park. “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."

If this is the version of the Red Sox that will be emerging for the last 18 games, where it goes will most likely be more interesting than some anticipated heading into the series opener against the O's.

It was just one win, but it was an important one.

The Red Sox are 73-71, the identical record as both the Tigers and Mariners. All three teams now reside three games in back of the Twins for the final Wild Card spot.

But, all things considered, the most dramatic bit of news involving the Red Sox Monday was how they played. For the first time since July 22, 2023, they collected four or more home runs, with Rob Refsnyder and Tyler O'Neill going back-to-back ... twice. (It was a feat not accomplished since Mo Vaughn and Tim Naehring managed it back in 1994.)

Such a dynamic - with right-handed hitters launching baseballs over the Fenway Park left field wall - is part of the Sox' blueprint for success. The inability to do such things has been identified as a reason for Alex Cora's team's 34-39 record at Fenway, which makes some sense considering the disparity between going deep on the road (100 homers) compared to at home (81).

There was also the kind of top-to-bottom production throughout the lineup that was prevalent when the Sox' offense was really going well. And, as has been the case for much of the season, was driven by No. 9 hitter Ceddanne Rafaela, who became just the second player in MLB history to total four or more hits out of the ninth spot in a single season. (Kevin Elster did it five times in 1996.)

And then there was the pitching.

While Brayan Bello did walk five batters, he also held the Orioles to just two runs over 5 2/3 innings, making it nine of his last 11 starts he has allowed three or fewer runs.

In all, the starters have taken a turn for the better at just the right time, managing a combined 2.40 ERA in their last 14 games. In 12 of those, they have limited the opponents to two or fewer runs.

There is little room for error, with the Twins facing the likes of the Angels and Reds the next five games while the Red Sox are tasked with the cream of the American League crop (the Orioles and Yankees). But, as has been the case for the entirety of this season, the Red Sox have shown they can compete with anyone in the A.L. if they put their best foot forward.

Monday night, it was a pretty good foot.