Dustin Pedroia is all smiles as he comes back to the dugout after his solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning. The win means Boston maintains its three-game lead over the Yankees.

The Providence Journal / Kris Craig

BOSTON — It has officially kicked in.

The momentum boost Boston has been waiting for in preparation of the postseason arrived in fine fashion last night as the Red Sox dismantled the Oakland Athletics in an 11-6 victory at Fenway Park.

With the exception of Julio Lugo, every Red Sox player in the starting lineup had at least one hit, but it was the top of the order that proved crucial.

The first four hitters — Dustin Pedroia, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Mike Lowell — combined for 10 runs on 12 hits to lead the offensive onslaught at a time when Boston needs to set the tone for the remaining four regular-season games before entering the playoffs.

Pedroia had a pair of doubles, a solo home run and scored four times. Ramirez went 3-for-3, all singles, with two runs scored and an RBI. Ortiz was spraying the ball all over the field and collected three hits, including a pair of doubles, and scored twice. Lowell has been dialed in all season, especially of late, and he contributed three hits and five RBI.

It’s safe to say the Red Sox found what they were looking for.

“We needed it,” said manager Terry Francona. “They kept coming back on us early, but the last four innings our bullpen kept them at bay and let us kick our offense into gear. We started really swinging the bats.”

The rest of the lineup chipped in nicely, too. Kevin Youkilis was back at first base for the first time since Sept. 15 — after battling a wrist injury he suffered when hit by a pitch against the Yankees — and contributed a hit before he was taken out in the seventh due to fatigue.

Jason Varitek went 1-for-4, including a double, while Jacoby Ellsbury added a single and has now hit safely in 21 of 22 games since his September call-up. Lugo went 0-for-5 in the No. 9 spot.

The biggest thing, however, is the fact that Ramirez and Youkilis are back in the lineup in time to prepare for the playoffs.

“It’s good, man,” said Ortiz. “We came back from a tough road trip and hitting like that, especially in this situation, is good. Everybody’s doing their thing, and my man 24 is back . . . Having Manny back and having Youk back is putting the lineup where it’s supposed to be.”

Of course, the typical Boston mantra of “one game at a time” still exists within the clubhouse with four games remaining in the regular season. The Red Sox will face Minnesota to close out their schedule.

“We’re getting there,” said Pedroia. “We’ve played good the last couple of days, but we need to keep it going.”

Boston’s solid play comes at a time when the team wants to sprint into the postseason, not crawl.

“I don’t think we’re at full strength,” Francona said. “Youk got a little fatigued, so we’re going to try to stay away from him [today]. Manny, in the first few days of spring training, you’ll never see him pull the ball; he stays on the ball. He’s such a smart and disciplined hitter that he’s going to get his at-bats and he’s putting himself in a position where all of a sudden he’s going to start launching them.”

jmcdonal@projo.com