Jason Bay has added punch to Boston’s offense and is hitting .327 with one homer and 12 RBI in 13 games with the Red Sox.

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MCT / John Sleezer

BOSTON — After what the Boston Red Sox accomplished in a three-game wipeout of the Texas Rangers this week, the question may seem absurd.

Do the Red Sox have enough offense to carry them into the postseason?

Ask the Rangers that question, and they’d stare at you in disbelief.

That’s because the Red Sox’ offense produced a total of 37 runs in carving up Texas’ pitching staff. It was the most runs ever scored by Boston in a three-game sweep at Fenway Park and the second-most runs scored in a three-game span at Fenway in the last 55 years, trailing only the 45 against Florida from June 27-29, 2003.

Of course, part of the equation leading to the offensive explosion was the state of the Rangers’ pitching staff, which, as usual, is dreadful. And it didn’t help Texas that its top starter, Vicente Padilla, was unable to take his turn because of an injury.

Still, the hits and the runs kept on coming, and a fair measure of credit for that had to go to the Sox’ hitters.

Take a look at the league’s batting leaders. Heading into action last night, the Red Sox’ Dustin Pedroia was first in the league at .323 and just a hair behind him tied with ex-Soxer Johnny Damon for second place, is Kevin Youkilis at .322.

Pedroia was tops in hits (162) and multiple-hit games (49), while Youkilis was fifth in RBI (83), third in slugging percentage (.574) and third in multiple-hit games (45), not to mention ninth in on-base percentage (.388).

And encouragement has to be taken from the reemergence of David Ortiz’s power. The Sox’ designated hitter, now hitting in front of the red-hot Youkilis instead of the traded Manny Ramirez, clubbed three three-run homers — two in one inning — in the dismantling of the Rangers.

Adding a little consistency to the offense has been Jason Bay, who came to the Red Sox in the three-team deal that sent Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The new Boston left fielder got off to a sizzling start, and is hitting .327 (18 for 55) with one homer and 12 RBI in his first 13 games with the Sox.

But after that?

The Red Sox lack consistency, especially with Mike Lowell on the disabled list because of an oblique strain that could linger the rest of the year. Even with Lowell, the Red Sox have had a tendency to struggle against some of the tougher pitchers in the league.

Obviously, those types of pitchers can shut down any team, but those are the types of pitchers the Red Sox are going to have to find a way to beat in their attempt to either overtake the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League East title or win the scramble for the wild-card postseason berth.

This series against Toronto offers Boston such a challenge, with the Blue Jays starting perennial Cy Young Award candidate Roy Halladay tonight. The Sox will not have to face A.J. Burnett, one of the league’s hottest pitchers, because the rainout pushed Shaun Marcum to tomorrow’s game, which had been Burnett’s day to pitch.

Boston manager Terry Francona likes to talk about lengthening his lineup. And he said he liked the balance of the lineup card he had written out for last night’s game, which had Jacoby Ellsbury leading off, J.D. Drew dropped from first to a more customary fifth spot, rookie Jed Lowrie hitting seventh, Sean Casey eighth and catcher Jason Varitek ninth.

Pedroia (second), Ortiz (third), Youkilis (fourth) and Bay (sixth) were in their normal spots.

Casey (.351) has been a godsend, a professional hitter off the bench, and Lowrie is tied with Colorado’s Ian Stewart for the most RBI (22) since the All-Star break.

“He [Lowrie] has given us more than you might have the right to expect,” said Francona.

While it looks like a decent lineup based on past history, at present it has a lot of holes in it.

Ellsbury, for instance, may be showing signs of rebounding from almost a two-month drought, but the rookie hasn’t been the catalyst he had been.

Drew, meanwhile, was as hot as a hitter could be the first three weeks of June, winning Player of the Month honors. Since June 21, however, Drew is batting a woeful .215 (32 for 149) with only five homers over his last 43 games, a full quarter of the season, dropping his average from .326 to .281. At least he has been walking, his 77 free passes helping him rank third in the league in on-base percentage at .408.

And Varitek? He has been as close to an automatic out as you’ll find in the major leagues, his average at .212.

The bench for last night’s game, meanwhile, had absolutely no thump and little to add to the offense from an on-base percentage point of view, either. Coco Crisp, Kevin Cash, Alex Cora and rookie Jeff Bailey, just recalled up from Pawtucket, will not frighten any opposing manager in the late innings.

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, they won’t be able to play the Rangers again until next month , when they visit Arlington.

So for now, unless Ellsbury and Drew begin to hit, the Red Sox are going to have to hope that Pedroia, Ortiz and Youkilis can keep on banging as the pressure falls on the pitching staff to win tight games down the stretch.Tonight

Toronto at Boston

7:05

(Last night’s game was postponed)

skrasner@projo.com