This is how it can work for the Red Sox

It was all about respecting the moment.

For the Orioles, rising to the occasion was simply giving a tip of the chapeau to their former face of the franchise, Adley Rutschman. They did.

For Rutschman, it was reminding everyone why such a to-do was made, exhibiting the best version of himself in what ultimately would be a 6-5 win for the Red Sox over the Orioles at Camden Yards Thursday night. Two home runs (the first coming in his initial at-bat) will do that.

"That's a heck of a way to make a return," Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters. “That was awesome. I thought it was really cool, the video they did for him. I thought it was first class of them to step out and let him be acknowledged, and the ovation was awesome. And obviously, he had a big night."

"Home runs are fun, man, they’re really fun," Rutschman told reporters. “So, yeah, just happy to contribute.”

And, for the Red Sox, the evening allowed for a reminder of how good it can be, and when it is this good what might be possible.

It was a win that came against an Orioles team that was trying to define itself as one of the favorites for that final wild card spot, having won eight of 10 before dropping a couple to Colorado leading into this four-game set against the Red Sox. It was also one which allowed for the optimism surrounding the Sox to get back on the tracks, with Tracy's club having lost six of their last eight.

But more than just the much-needed victory, the notion that these pieces can fit so perfectly gave the Red Sox a sense of security that had dissipated over the last week.

The images of Rutschman tentatively playing catch before each of these games while testing his injured elbow, along with a series of less-than-inspiring at-bats (hitting .179 with a .495 OPS in his first 15 games with Boston) were gone. This was what the Red Sox were banking on when the postseason rolled around on Sept. 29.

The two home runs were part of four overall for the visitors, a power surge that represented how things best work in October. (It was just the third time this season the Red Sox had managed to leave the park that many times, all coming after the beginning of August.) And the bonus inside the bonus was seeing Roman Anthony supply one of the long balls.

Since his return Sunday, Anthony has represented the kind of top-of-the-order alpha the Red Sox will desperately need for any sort of tun through October. In his first 24 plate appearances upon the return from the injured list, Anthony is hitting .455 with a 1.409 OPS, with homers in his most recent two games.

There were other elements that should have been bottled.

Nick Sogard continued to be the solution at second base, hitting the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning. The Red Sox are now 9-4 since Aug. 17 when Sogard has managed at least one hit.

And for just the second time in the last 11 games the Red Sox starting pitcher went as many as six innings, with Jake Bennett turning his second straight outstanding start. It was a version of the lefty (6 IP, 3 R) that would absolutely play when the postseason spotlight gets turned on, a reality that gave this team some revitalized hope with 21 regular season games to play.

This is the blueprint. That was the reminder.