McAdam: Could the Red Sox bash their way back into contention?

Brian Johnson wasn't happy.

He had rightfully thought that he had struck out Justin Upton for the third out of the first inning. Instead, home plate umpire Mark Ripperger missed a curveball that should have been the third strike, and with Upton soon on first with a walk, things quickly snowballed when Albert Pujols launched a three-run homer to left.

Johnson came off the mound after the first half-inning, having already put his team in a 3-0 hole.

In the runway from the dugout to the clubhouse, special assistant Jason Varitek was waiting with a message.

"We're going to win this game -- just keep (the score) there,'' Varitek told Johnson.

Varitek isn't necessarily clairvoyant, though it might have seemed that way when the Red Sox scored a run of their own in the fist and then went onto to throttle the Los Angeles Angels 16-4, swatting five homers in the process. It marked the eighth time since the All-Star break that the Sox had scored nine or more runs in a game.

The former All-Star catcher may have unwittingly pointed out an unconventional path for the Sox to take back into playoff contention: by bashing their opponents and outhitting the mistakes made by their own pitchers.

That's hardly the preferred method. The Sox were supposed to have a deep, proven rotation to carry them most nights. But too often, the starters have been inconsistent and, as we've seen, the relievers haven't been much better.

Still, the Red Sox remain on the fringes of the wild card chase, largely on the strength of their offense. The Red Sox are second in the majors in runs scored, first in batting average and second in extra-base hits. Their lineup, in fact, is the sole reason the Sox are even remotely in the running for a postseason spot.

It would be preferable for the Sox to win as they had planned. Thursday's night gem by Chris Sale offered some hope that the guy at the top of the rotation may have finally, better than four months in, figured some things out, though clearly, more is needed to make that case.

Even if Sale is a true No. 1 for the final seven weeks, there are still some significant obstacles to pitching-first strategy. David Price is on the IL with a cyst in his wrist. Rick Porcello, also sharper in his last outing, sports a 5.44 ERA. And newcomer Andrew Cashner continues to show an alarming penchant for giving up homers at the worst possible time.

That doesn't even begin to account for the bullpen, which remains -- how to put this politely? -- an adventure. For now, Brandon Workman stands out as the lone truly trustworthy option in high leverage spots.

Tough way to win, that is.

But this is a strange year, with balls rocketing over fences and scoreboards lighting up like a pinball machine. If ever there was a year when a team could somehow sneak its way into the postseason on offense alone, this would be it.

And if ever there was a lineup which could make such a case, this might be it. Deep from top to bottom, offering good left-right balance, a mix of veterans sluggers and younger, more athletic hitters, the Sox can be a force.

It helps that the team's two most formidable weapons from a year ago -- MVP Mookie Betts and fourth-place finisher J.D. Martinez -- are only just now cranking it up after a first half in which their performances were behind their production of a season ago.

Item: Since the start of July, Betts has a .958 OPS.

Item: Since July 20, Martinez has hit .425 with eight homers and 22 RBI in his last 20 games.

The time is now, it would seem.

"I still think we can pitch,'' said Alex Cora. "But I do believe we can hit with anybody. We can do this. Is it hard to do it, for 40 games, outhit the opposition? Of course, it is ... I think offensively, we can do some special things. There are teams around the league, they're doing that - offensively they're picking up their pitchers, then their guys start doing the job and you get hot. So, I think we can do it.''

In fact, if any team can do it, it's the Red Sox.

The schedule will help them soon. After a tough road series with red-hot Cleveland, the Sox come home for a series with Baltimore. Series with Colorado, a road series with the Angels and Toronto all await. It's unlikely those teams are going to subdue the Red Sox lineup.

It won't be easy of course. But having to re-calibrate their journey for the final leg, it's not impossible.

And it's the only road left available.