Tyler O'Neill blasts two home runs, blasts Chicago in Red Sox win

O’Neill went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in three runs in the Red Sox’ 7-5 win.

Tyler O’Neill helped spark the Red Sox offense with two long shots over the Green Monster Saturday. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)

Tyler O’Neill reignited a stagnant Red Sox offense on Saturday, giving Boston enough of a push to beat the White Sox for the second straight night.

O’Neill blasted a pair of home runs on Saturday, went 3-for-4 at the plate, drove in 3 RBIs and scored three times, stuffing the stat sheet offensively. O’Neill’s power had been on display all season long, but his bat quieted down considerably post-All-Star break — just as the majority of the Red Sox offense did.

In his last 20 games leading up to Saturday night, O’Neill only hit three home runs. So, a multi-HR game was huge for the outfielder’s confidence as Boston heads into its most important stretch of the season, still holding onto its hope of securing an American League wildcard spot.

“I feel that I’ve been taking good at-bats lately. … You’re not going to feel your best every day, but I’m trusting my preparation right now,” O’Neill told reporters. “I’m sending the barrel where I want to.”

O’Neill’s first long ball of the night came in the very first inning of action, a two-run shot belted well over the Green Monster off the Plymouth Rock Mortgage Assurance sign. A no-doubter to put the Red Sox on top early.

O’Neill conquered the Green Monster again in the fifth inning, launching a solo shot on the first pitch he faced in the at-bat. That gave Boston plenty of cushion, which came in handy when Chicago clawed back with a three-run homer in the seventh inning.

Saturday marked O’Neill’s sixth multi-home run game of the season. Only the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez has more in multi-HR games in 2024.

In his first season with the Red Sox, O’Neill has 27 home runs, a .258 batting average, and an OPS of .881. He is second on the team in both home runs and OPS behind Rafael Devers, while playing in 29 fewer games than the longtime Red Sox slugger.

Boston is four games back from the final wildcard spot, currently held by the Minnesota Twins. The Red Sox will host Minnesota for a three-game series starting on Sept. 20.