Tyler O'Neill hits a walk-off blast as the Red Sox defeat the Orioles

A loss for the Red Sox would have all but sealed their fate, and they would now be five games behind Minnesota in the battle for the final playoff spot.

But when O'Neill turned a 1-1 low-and-in slider from Keegan Akin into a three-run walkoff homer, Fenway Park and its 32,448 fans had another night to keep the lights shining.

“It was great,” manager Alex Cora said after the Sox's 5-3 victory in 10 innings that clinched the series. “We pitched, which is great, you know. Hopefully we'll start hitting again at some point.”

O'Neill's team-leading 30th home run came in an at-bat in which he was simply attempting to bring automatic runner Jarren Duran home from third base.

This happened in his 101st game, a remarkable achievement in a season that was repeatedly interrupted by injuries.

“I'm really proud of all the work I've done this year,” said O'Neill, who has five career walkoffs, including two this season. “I've just made sure I'm in really good shape physically to be able to go out there and perform on a daily basis.”

“I definitely see the results of that.”

If you take care of O'Neill's health, Cora says, he will take care of you.

There is some truth in that.

Consider this: O'Neill has hit five home runs in his last five games. Since August 25, eight of his last 14 hits have been home runs, and 14 of his last 30 hits since July 20 have left the yard.

His inability to stay on the field was once again a hindrance. But when the outfielder plays, he is undoubtedly productive.

“Little by little he's getting better,” Cora added. “It feels like he's doing damage with every pitch, every hit. That's what we needed. It's been great.”

The Sox's ongoing offensive problems meant they were unable to contain right-hander Dean Kremer, who went seven innings and allowed five hits and one earned run.

But Sox starter Nick Pivetta made things similarly difficult for the Orioles, a club that also has problems with placement.

Pivetta, who lowered his ERA to 4.24, limited Baltimore to four hits in six innings and recorded nine strikeouts.

“Good fastball, good breaking ball,” said Cora. ​​”He threw the ball well. Just the control of the fastball over the zone was huge for [the horizontal attack] we have spoken.”

Pivetta's only slip-up came in the third inning when he hit a sweeper up the middle to nine-hole hitter Emmanuel Rivera, who the third baseman placed in the Green Monster seats.

But the Red Sox got the run back in the third inning on a two-out single by Duran and a walk by Rafael Devers. Wilyer Abreu then hit a ball toward Rivera at third base. Rivera caught the slow tapper on the run, but threw an errant throw to first base that scored Duran from second base.

The Sox scored another run against Kremer in the fourth inning. Kremer allowed a leadoff double by Masataka Yoshida before getting two straight outs with a strikeout and a groundout. However, Trevor Story worked a walk, which was followed by an RBI single by Rafaela.

Although the bats remained quiet until the 10th inning, Pivetta and the bullpen managed to keep the Sox ahead 2-1 until Anthony Santander hit a two-out solo shot against Justin Slaten in the 8th inning. Kenley Jansen went 1-2-3-9. But the Orioles took the lead in the 10th inning on Rivera's RBI single that brought home automatic runner Austin Slater.

The downfall seemed inevitable. Just like the Sox season.

But O'Neill did a great job of keeping his club's season going with 16 games to go.

“I mean, it's getting harder and harder, but it's realistic. Let's be honest,” Cora said of the Sox's playoff hopes. “So let's go to New York and win [another] Series.”

You can reach Julian McWilliams at [email protected]. Follow him @vonJulianMack.