Red Sox DH David Ortiz (34) greets Jason Bay after Bay’s three-run homer in the first inning last night.

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The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON — Red Sox rookie shortstop Jed Lowrie said it best after Friday night’s victory over the Oakland Athletics.

It was the team’s first game since the Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline. Boston needed 12 innings but it was able to post its first win in the post- Manny Ramirez era. Lowrie said the club needed that victory to leave the past behind and concentrate on defending its World Series title.

With last night’s 12-2 pounding of the A’s, the Red Sox now have won back-to-back games, the first time they have done that since it had a three-game sweep in Seattle from July 21-23.

“I don’t think anything is different,” said the Sox’ Kevin Youkilis, who provided a pair of two-run homers last night. “We’re just playing better baseball and putting together good at-bats. Winning solves a lot and when you win everyone is excited and happy and the mood is good. We have 51 games left, we have to go out and play those 51 games the best we can.”

This season could be reminiscent of 2004.

Unless you’ve been living under home plate, that was the year the Red Sox traded disgruntled star Nomar Garciaparra at the deadline and then went on to win the World Series. Many believe it was that deal that solidified the team, both on and off the field, allowing it to erase an 86-year championship drought.

After that deal, the Red Sox posted an impressive 21-7 record in the month of August. It was the additions of Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz that changed the chemistry en route to the World Series.

Fast forward to 2008 and the trade that sent Ramirez to the Dodgers in a three-team deal that brought Jason Bay to Boston. It’s only been two days, but already there seems to be a similar pattern developing.

“Everybody is different,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “We didn’t get Jason [Bay] in here to be Manny or [Cabrera]. Jason is good enough and he understands that, I think, better than anybody.”

The fact is Bay has quickly made his mark.

After his impressive Red Sox debut Friday at Fenway Park — he scored both of Boston’s runs, including the game-winning run after he tripled in the bottom of the 12th inning — and was just as good last night.

Oakland scored two runs off Red Sox starter Jon Lester in the top of the first inning, thanks in part to a two-run homer by the A’s Emil Brown. But Boston responded in a big way in the home half of the inning. Youkilis provided a two-run homer before Bay crushed a three-run shot well over the left-center field wall to give the Sox a 5-2 lead.

“That ball went a long way,” said Francona referring to Bay’s first homer with the Sox. “It’s so nice to score early, and then do it again. We gave ourselves some breathing room. Jon started out with not-his-best stuff, but we come right back and he settled in.”

Boston added to its lead in the bottom of the third inning when Lowrie cleared the bases with a double down the right-field line for a 9-2 advantage. The Sox pushed across another run in the fifth when Coco Crisp drove in a run.

Lester finished seven strong innings and allowed only two runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts. The southpaw improved to 10-3 and has not lost since May 25. During that stretch he’s won seven times and has four no-decisions. In fact, Boston is 13-0 in Lester’s 13 career seven-plus innings starts. That mark ties him with Jerry Casale for most consecutive team wins in starts of at least seven innings to begin his Red Sox career.

The Red Sox continued their offensive prowess in the bottom of the eighth inning when Youkilis provided his second two-run homer of the game, another lined shot into the Monster Seats for a 12-2 lead. It was the fourth time in his career, and third time this season, he has recorded a two-homer game.

Almost every Red Sox player said after the trade deadline that all they wanted to do was win baseball games. Now that peace seems to be restored, Boston has won consecutive games. The first one was a dramatic victory on Friday, and last night was the pounding Boston has been waiting for.

“Tonight is a good example,” said Francona. “We’re fine. Let’s go play our game. There had been some frustrations, and that’s part of baseball. How you handle that is more important, and tonight was a good example. It’s a good way to play.”

Bay’s personality is at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to Ramirez, but maybe that’s exactly what the Red Sox need at this point. It’s only been two games, and there is a lot of baseball to be played, but there has been a positive effect taking place.

“Two games don’t make a year or career,” said Bay. “But I’m happy the way we started.”

jmcdonal@projo.com