Big Papi's blast has Red Sox positioned for more worst-to-first magic

When the Boston Red Sox took the field on Sept. 9, they had a newly acquired one-game lead in the AL East – their biggest margin since early June – and their path to a division crown clearly laid out in front of them.

All 23 games remaining on their schedule were against teams from the division, which contained no less than four playoff contenders.

It still does, but now the other three are mostly battling for a wild-card spot.

Boston has run roughshod over its brethren since then, going 9-3 and winning its last six to open a four-game lead over the second-place Toronto Blue Jays, putting itself in prime position for a worst-to-first transformation. The last time the Red Sox rose from the basement to the penthouse was in 2013, when they won their third World Series title in 10 years.

David Ortiz breaks open Red Sox's win over Orioles

This club is starting to take on the look of a championship threat thanks to its overpowering offense – with three 100-RBI hitters in David Ortiz, Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez – but also a pitching staff that has rounded into form in the second half.

Red Sox starters lead the AL with a 3.58 ERA since July 9, and their relievers have the majors’ lowest bullpen ERA in September at 0.89.

Just as significant, the Red Sox may have found a solid third starter for the postseason in second-year left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who has gone back to showing more of his fine rookie form since returning from a three-week demotion to the minors in July.

Rodriguez, 23, has a 3.21 ERA while holding opponents below a .220 batting average in 12 starts since rejoining the rotation, giving manager John Farrell an appealing starting option for the playoffs after David Price and Rick Porcello.

Rodriguez boosted his chances by limiting the Orioles to four hits, one walk and two runs over 6 1/3 innings in Tuesday’s 5-2 victory as Boston lowered its magic number for clinching the division to eight.

“It’s been like making a major deadline trade for us,’’ Farrell said of Rodriguez’s turnaround, partly the result of developing a slider. “His renewed confidence has gone a long way. No one questioned the talent; it was a matter of putting it together.’’

In their quest to send Ortiz into retirement as a champion, the Red Sox have won 14 of their last 19, severely damaging the Yankees’ postseason chances by sweeping them over four games, and now virtually eliminating the Orioles from contention for the division.

Big Papi’s role, of course, has been far from ceremonial. When he’s not busy accepting presents and accolades – most recently he had a shark named after him  -- Ortiz continues to slug his way into MVP consideration.

“Forty is the new 20,’’ Ortiz said after his 36th homer – a three-run blast in the seventh – set a single-season record for a player in his final season, provided he falls through on his vow to retire after this year. “I’ll try and hit a couple more so nobody can reach me.’’

Amid all this revelry, though, there’s still room for some old-fashioned New England angst.

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