The Baltimore Orioles broke out of a two-run deadlock in the top of the tenth inning, and with the series — and the Boston Red Sox's playoff hopes — on the line, Tyler O'Neill delivered, again.
With runners on the corners, O'Neill crushed a towering homer over the Green Monster, his fifth blast in five days. As soon as the baseball cracked off his bat, the Fenway crowd knew it was gone. "Dirty Water" might've started before the ball even landed.
O'Neill's blast was the exclamation point on Boston's 5-3 victory over Baltimore. Every win is critical in the Sox's Wild Card chase, and they were in danger of falling behind their closest rivals. The Twins and Tigers had already won their games and the Royals were simultaneously tied with the Yankees — O'Neill came through when the Red Sox had no choice but to win, and this isn't the first time.
O'Neill has posted two, two-homer games in the past five days. He and Rob Refsnyder were the driving force in the Sox's series-opening victory against the Orioles on Sept. 9. O'Neill mashed two homers against the White Sox two days prior.
Tyler O'Neill's offense has been crucial to the Red Sox's Wild Card fight in September
WALKED OFF INTO THE BOSTON NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/i5pkDxrUvh
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 12, 2024
The Red Sox only scored 14 runs in their eight games from Aug. 29 - Sept. 6. O'Neill's two-homer outing against the White Sox on Sept. 7 saved the series for Boston against the worst team in the league. The Red Sox had the Orioles and the Yankees ahead the following week, and they've been a much tougher test than Chicago all season.
O'Neill remained the hero against the Orioles, and his offensive contributions have been a lifeline for the Red Sox down the stretch. The 29-year-old is an impending free agent, and he's been living up to the moment in Boston lately.
"Playing in Boston, September, meaningful baseball, it's a dream come true," O'Neill said in his postgame interview with NESN.
"I'm just really enjoying playing meaningful baseball here in Boston . . . I just want to ride that energy throughout October."
The Red Sox's outfield alignment could become complicated next season, especially with Roman Anthony playing so well in Triple-A. If O'Neill continues to come through for Boston in its playoff race, he may play his way into a few more years with the Red Sox.