Summer is here and so are last year's Red Sox

A month ago the Red Sox don't win this game. But it isn't a month ago. It feels like nine months ago, and that has made all the difference in the world.

The Red Sox' come-from-behind, 10-inning, 7-5 win over the Blue Jays had that 2018 vibe, that same kind of feeling Alex Cora said a few days ago had returned to his club. They've won eight of their last nine games and are seven over .500 for the first time all season. It's hard to argue with Cora's assessment.

"It was big. Especially, we picked up some momentum on the road trip," said Chris Sale after Christian Vazquez' two-run, walk-off homer punctuated the Sox comeback. "Played really well the entire time, lost a tough one. Coming here, continuing that and good vibes and keep it rolling, getting the first win of the series, you know, picking me up. That was big. I put us in a pretty bad hole early on I think AC tapped me I think after the third or fourth inning and was like, 'we're going to win this game'. We just kind of feel it."

Make no mistake about it, if the Red Sox are going to make a legitimate run at this thing (and by this "thing" we mean the division title) they are going to need better from Sale. For whatever reason the lefty didn't have the dominant stuff he has been carting out of late, giving up four runs over five innings. Coming into the start against the Jays, Sale's month had seen him give up just two earned runs over 22 innings, striking out 32 and walking just two.

Tonight is the 11th straight home start for Chris Sale w/o a win, one short of the #RedSox record. Note his (now) 3.27 ERA during the streak is the lowest listed.These are REGULAR SEASON stats/streaks. Sale beat the Yankees in the ALDS.@bradfo @IanMBrowne @alexspeier pic.twitter.com/MUODMbt0db

But even with Sale's hiccup, there was enough for the Red Sox to hang their hat on to feel like things have turned for good.

- The combination of Josh Taylor, Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes and Brandon Workman went the final 3 2/3 innings without giving up a run.

- Rafael Devers helped continue the Red Sox' pinch-hitting mastery, coming off the bench with a game-tying pinch-hit single in the eighth. It improved the Sox' pinch-hitting batting average to a major league-best .450 (18-for-40).

- Michael Chavis continues to trend back in the right direction, claiming a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. It is the longest stretch by a Red Sox rookie since Andrew Benintendi notched a hit in 11 straight games two seasons ago.

- And then there was Vazquez and his walk-off ...

Down 5-1.Up 7-5. #DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/4k1Mu0wty1

"He's been one of the best catchers in the American League," Cora said. "I think he's right there with - as far as WAR - with (Gary) Sanchez and (James) McCann, I think he is. probably he went ahead of them today. But he's been amazing. He's been good offensively. He's done an outstanding job, he had some tough games behind the plate. Bullpen games and games he had to maneuver throughout and give us a chance to win.

"He's had some tough games behind the plate, bullpen games, and a lot of games that he had to maneuver throughout and gave us a chance to win. He doesn't get enough credit behind the plate, but he's one of the best defensive catchers in the league. It just happens that we have two of them, and I think that benefits him, too. That Sandy (Leon) can catch certain days and he stays fresh, but offensively, he's been good. He's been really good. I know it's tough for him sometimes. He would love to catch five out of seven or six out of seven, but you just gotta be patient, and I'm very happy for him. I know what he tried to accomplish in the offseason and he sees the results now."

The Red Sox still sit seven games out of first place behind the juggernaut that is the Yankees. And there are three teams sitting within two games of the Sox for the second Wild Card spot. There is undoubtedly a long, long way to go.

But first thing is first. The Red Sox had to feel like they once again belonged back in the championship conversation. 

"I think it's just that we all know that we can't be saying, hey, things are going to turn around. Things are going to turn around," said Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. "We've gotta really step it up and turn it around by acting that way. Thankfully we started doing that and it's been going good so far for us."

"Aw. (Expletive). It happens," he said. "So show up to the field tomorrow and try to win the baseball game and we'll see what happens."