The Red Sox’ David Ortiz reacts with glee after scoring on Dustin Pedroia’s three-run homer in the fourth inning last night.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON — Prior to last night’s execution of the Baltimore Orioles, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he loves the way his club has played all year.

Why shouldn’t he?

It doesn’t matter that the Red Sox are in second place in the A.L. East with less than a month to go in the regular season. It doesn’t matter that they have an 81-57 record. It doesn’t matter that they have had success despite all the injuries and makeshift lineups.

The bottom line is the Red Sox are winning and that has made Francona a very happy manager.

Boston continues its charge toward a postseason berth, and hasn’t let up on the possibility that the division title is still within its grasp. At this point, the wildcard is the furthest thing from the Red Sox’ minds.

The Red Sox pounded the Orioles into submission last night at Fenway Park with a lopsided 14-2 victory. Boston starter Jon Lester improved to 13-6 as the Sox offense collected 20 hits en route to their fifth straight win at home.

“We grinded it out really well tonight,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “When they made mistakes, we made them pay for it. We did a good job of extending the lead, bearing down and spreading out.”

And, guess who led the way again?

Yup. Dustin Pedroia.

The chants of “MVP! MVP! MVP!” from the 37,710 fans began during his first at-bat and continued every time he stepped into the batter’s box.

“They’re enjoying themselves,” said Francona. “That’s why you come to a game.”

Pedroia said he didn’t let the chants affect him.

“I’m just coming to park and doing the same things I’ve been doing all season,” said Pedroia. “I don’t think about (MVP). I’m just trying to hit and do what I do.”

On the possibility of 20-homer season?

“I don’t think about any of that stuff,” he said. “I don’t have goals or numbers to start off the season. I don’t think about hitting 20 home runs. Home runs happen. I just try to put a good swing on the ball. If it goes out, it goes out.

Pedroia hit in the cleanup spot for the third time in the last four games — he did so last night due to a last-minute scratch when Kevin Youkilis couldn’t play due to back spasms — and went 3-for-5, including five RBI to match a career-high set June 15, 2007 against San Francisco.

“Wherever he hits, he does a good job,” said Francona. “That was a quick move tonight with Youkilis. We were literally just ahead of the anthem and he’s down in the cage when his back tightened up, so we get (Jeff) Bailey in there and put Pedey in the four-hole. He just continues to get hits.”

With Pedroia’s three-run home run in the third inning last night, he now has 16 homers this season and raised his RBI total to 75. Just a quick reference: Last summer former Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez — who missed a month of the season from mid-August to late September due to injury — finished 2007 with 20 homers and 88 RBI.

“He’s been unreal,” said Lester. “He’s swinging the heck out of the bat right now. It seems like every time you turn around he’s up to bat with guys on base and he comes up clutch every time. He’s done a great job for us defensively, offensively, leadership(wise) and whatever Tito and the team ask of him, he’s does a good job doing it.”

The Red Sox exploded for four runs in the third inning last night,thanks in part to David Ortiz’s two-run double, Pedroia’s sacrifice fly and Mark Kotsay’s RBI double off Baltimore starter Radhames Liz.

After Lester allowed his only run of the outing in the top of the fourth inning, Boston demonstrated its offensive prowess once again in the home half with a six-run barrage led by Jacoby Ellsbury’s RBI single, Ortiz’s second two-run double of the game and Pedroia’s three-run homer for a 10-1 advantage.

Rookie Jed Lowrie, a last-minute addition to the lineup when Youkilis was scratched due to back spasms, gave Boston an 11-1 lead with a RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The onslaught continued in the bottom of the seventh when the Red Sox pushed across two more runs.

Pedroia collected his fifth RBI of the game on a seeing-eye RBI single down the first-base line, followed by a RBI single by Jonathan Van Every for a 13-1 lead.

Lowrie picked up his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning as Boston increased its lead to 14-1.

After Lester’s five-inning outing — one run on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts — Red Sox relievers Manny Delcarmen and Chris Smith did not allow a run until David Pauley surrendered Baltimore’s second run in the top of the ninth for a 14-2 final.

“We’re swinging the bats great,” Pedroia said. “These have been two good wins for us.”

Recently, Pedroia stood in the dugout at Fenway Park and glanced at the A.L. East scoreboard on the left-field wall. Using his Arizona State education, he quickly did the math and realized all the Red Sox had to do was pick up a game a week on the division-leading Rays and the East can be won.

That would make Francona really, really love this club.

jmcdonal@projo.com