BOSTON — It’s August, it’s hot and the Boston Red Sox can see the finish line.

There are two months remaining, and the Red Sox feel like they have all the necessary pieces in place for a strong run at the division title, the league pennant and a second World Series title in four years.

After Boston subdued the Baltimore Orioles, 7-4, in a matinee at Fenway Park yesterday, the club has now won four consecutive series and will head back out on the road. In fact, 19 of their next 25 games are away from Fenway Park. But the Red Sox have the second-best road record (Detroit’s 35-25 mark leads the way) in the league, at 30-22. So everything is falling into place and everyone is contributing. Manny Ramirez is getting hot (.349 in his last 11 games, with 4 homers and 15 RBI) and the pitching staff is now complete with the addition of reliever Eric Gagne and the return of Curt Schilling to the rotation on Monday in Anaheim.

“We’re playing much better baseball,” said Red Sox utility infielder Alex Cora. “We’ve got everyone contributing and doing all the little things. We know what kind of pitching staff we’ve got, and now it’s real important to stick to the basics and keep playing fundamental baseball.”

The Red Sox have done just that the last few weeks, and now that the trade deadline has come and gone, everyone on the roster will have to contribute, like they did yesterday

“It’s a team game,” said Eric Hinske. “Today was a game where myself, Cora and (Doug) Mirabelli were all in there and we all did something good. Anytime you can give your starters a rest, get your bench guys in and have them produce, it’s a big lift for the team, and it was a big win for us today.”

Fortunately for the Red Sox, Mirabelli redeemed himself in a big way, and that was crucial.

With one out, the score 3-3 and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz crushed a high fly ball to deep right-center field. Baltimore outfielder Nick Markakis caught the ball at the base of the warning track, which would normally score the run from third with ease.

But that wasn’t the case yesterday.

After the ball was caught, Mirabelli took off, but retreated to make sure he hadn’t left the bag early, and he was thrown out. The Red Sox catcher called the play an embarrassment.

But he made up for it.

With two outs, two on and the score 3-3 in the seventh inning, Mirabelli got his third hit of the game (he had hit a solo homer in the fourth ), a soft liner to shallow left-center that scored Coco Crisp before Cora drove in pinch-runner J.D. Drew with the eventual winning run. Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia provided a two-run single as Boston took a 7-3 advantage.

“It’s tough as a player when the trade deadline is around,” said Hinske. “You hear all the rumors and you never know if you’re going somewhere. Now that it’s over and we’ve got Gagne, we can go forward as a team because everybody knows their role and situation.”

Everyone in the Red Sox’ starting lineup yesterday contributed at least one hit, with the exception of Kevin Youkilis, who is batting only .187 in the last 22 games. But there are more important things than individual performances.

“We’re playing good ball and we’re winning series, which is the big thing,” said Youkilis. “Some days you contribute and other days you don’t. You just have to keep the winning mindset.”

Things won’t get easier for Boston as it heads out on the road. Seattle has been tough on the Red Sox, having swept a three-game series there in June.

“We haven’t had much success there lately,” said Pedroia. “We have to play better there and try to have a good road trip. … There’s no quit in us. Everybody has been putting the bats together, and (yesterday) was a big win for us.”

jmcdonal@projo.com