Red Sox making pitch for playoff run

Maybe the Boston Red Sox really are going to send David Ortiz out in style. Trophies, tears, parades, etc. That scenario doesn’t even feel like all that much of a stretch given how well the Red Sox are playing these days.

On Wednesday, they’ll be trying to win for the 11th time in 13 games when they hand the ball to right-hander Rick Porcello at Tropicana Field against the Rays. Porcello has been the No. 1 guy in a rotation that suddenly looks like one of baseball’s deepest.

In the last two weeks, Boston starters are 8-1 with a 2.66 ERA. Only the Royals and Cubs have been better. If this were almost any other division, it would be tempting to see the Red Sox methodically taking control. But even after winning 10 of 12, the Red Sox find themselves in a three-team cluster separated by two games in the American League East.

At 71-54, Toronto and Boston are tied for first place with the Orioles (69-56) two games out. Since July 17, the three teams have not been separated by more than three games.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays will finish the regular season with three games against one another at Fenway Park, and there’s no reason to think it’ll be settled before then.

Red Sox optimism is growing. Their veterans, especially Ortiz (.321, 29 HRs, 98 RBIs), are performing at a high level. Their young guys have been tremendous, especially outfielder Mookie Betts (.313, 28 HRs, 89 RBIs), who has positioned himself squarely in the AL Most Valuable Player discussion.

Rookie outfielder Andrew Benintendi has been a nice second-half addition. In 20 games, he’s hitting .323, and his leap over the left-field wall to bring a Steven Souza Jr. home run back into the park on Monday might end up being the best …

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