The night optimism returned to the Red Sox

It's not as if the Red Sox didn't know what was going on. They got it. When you go through the type of stretch the early days of August presented Alex Cora's team, every potential solution is thrown into the mix ... including team meetings.

“I mean, we had some guys, we had a couple of guys, probably better to keep that internal. As I said, it’s been a rough time for us," said Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. "Obviously, we all were optimistic. I think coming home here at Fenway kind of, it was good for us with the schedule how it’s been, after that long road trip, we come back home, grinded a lot on the road and come back home where we normally play our best."

But just because you hope it happens, doesn't mean it will. That was the lesson learned over and over and over again by Bogaerts and his teammates the last few weeks.

Then came Wednesday night.

All that optimism. All those what-might-be's. All of that believe that it can't possibly be this bad for much longer. In the second game of their series against the Rays, on a picture-postcard summer night at Fenway Park, it all finally took root.

Red Sox 20, Rays 8.

While the team's foundation was seemingly crumbling thanks to downturns from the go-to guys, and lack of reinforcements to help prop up the problems, along came hope.

The Red Sox' offense totaled three more hits than it had during Sunday's loss in Toronto, yet scored 12 more runs. You get the idea.

The concerns of guys like J.D. Martinez (4-for-4), Bogaerts (3 runs, 2 hits, 4 RBIs, HR), and Bobby Dalbec (2 hits and the first multi-walk game of his young career) flew out the window.

There was also the reminder that this starting rotation -- as currently constituted with the implementation of Tanner Houck and Chris Sale -- might actually be able to hold its own.

The starter this night, Nathan Eovaldi, became the first Red Sox pitcher to throw at least seven innings since July 24, giving up just one run along the way. In fact, in the last five starts Sox starters have pitched to a 2.30 ERA. That's certainly something.

It's not always going to work out this way, with the Red Sox' first three batters -- Kiké Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe and Bogaerts -- all collecting doubles. (It was actually the first time it has happened for the Sox in the expansion era.) Still, it was something.

They won. There was just two more games before Chris Sale's return. Kyle Schwarber appears read to start playing baseball again. And a lot of what was good in those first four months reappeared.

The same optimism that the Red Sox left behind prior to the trade deadline had finally been uncovered.

“Help is on its way," Bogaerts said. "I mean, we obviously have some other guys also who have been on the DL that have been playing well for us this year. Knowing that they’re coming back soon, it’s fun."

"Jonny (Miller) asked me yesterday can it get worse? I hope so. If this is the start of something better, I hope so, too," Cora said. "We take it day by day. We've just go to keep playing baseball. We know where we're at. Right now we have a wild card spot, but that's not what we're shooting for. We're shooting for the division. For that we have to play better. I do believe we've been playing better the last few days. It just happens both of those teams came back on us, but I think we're getting there. We're getting there."