BOSTON -- For quite some time, Cedric Mullins was focused on trying to return to his 2021 form. That was the year the Orioles¡¯ center fielder was an All-Star and a Silver Slugger while setting career highs in nearly every offensive stat, including homers (30), OPS (.878) and more.

Mullins has never quite gotten back to that level. But he¡¯s been closer during the second half of 2024 -- especially over the past two weeks -- largely because of a mindset shift.

¡°The biggest part was for me to stop chasing that season. That season was awesome, but at the same time, I think the reason I¡¯m putting up numbers that are similar to it is because I¡¯m no longer chasing that guy,¡± Mullins said earlier this week. ¡°I¡¯m just being who I am.¡±

On Tuesday night, this 2024 version of Mullins did something he had only previously done in ¡®21 -- hit two home runs in the same game.

Mullins went deep twice to back another gem by right-hander Albert Su¨¢rez in Baltimore¡¯s 5-3 victory over Boston at Fenway Park. It was Mullins¡¯ fifth multi-homer game of his seven-year MLB career, with the previous four all coming in 2021 (most recently June 19 of that year).

¡°Cedric, for the last couple weeks, is taking really good at-bats, and he was huge for us tonight,¡± manager Brandon Hyde said of Mullins, who is hitting .412 (14-for-34) with four homers and nine RBIs over 11 games since Aug. 30.

The Orioles (83-63) gained ground in the American League East race, moving to a half-game back of the first-place Yankees (83-62), who lost to the Royals.

Hyde made some tweaks to his lineup on Monday amid offensive struggles for the O¡¯s, who had scored seven total runs while losing four of their previous five entering Tuesday. One change was moving Mullins up the order and into the No. 2 hole, a spot he had started in only once before Monday (Aug. 12, 2023, vs. the Mariners).

Mullins was comfortable there Tuesday, giving Baltimore a 1-0 lead in the first with a Statcast-projected 334-foot homer that tucked inside the Pesky Pole in right field and marked the shortest of his 85 career long balls. It was a bit of a surprise home run, considering it was a high fly ball that had an expected batting average of .030 and landed amid the seats closest to home plate among those in fair territory.

The 44-degree launch angle was the highest of any of Mullins¡¯ homers, and the hangtime of 6.36 seconds was the longest.

¡°I¡¯m not surprised, with Pesky Pole out there,¡± Mullins said. ¡°Was able to get one to hook around.¡±

In the third, Mullins pushed the O¡¯s lead to 3-0 on a 407-foot two-run homer to right field, his 17th home run of the year. That¡¯s his second most in a season, behind only 2021.

¡°Just putting quality at-bats together. I think that¡¯s been the main focus,¡± said Mullins, who also drew a walk and recorded his 27th stolen base of the season. ¡°Focusing on getting on base, creating some havoc on the bases, and leading to some power as well.¡±

Su¨¢rez tossed six innings of one-run ball, setting career highs in strikeouts (eight) and whiffs (21). His four-seam fastball was again strong (six whiffs generated), but the 34-year-old right-hander got even better results with his curveball (seven) and changeup (six) than usual.

It was the 10th time in 21 starts this year that Su¨¢rez has allowed fewer than two runs.

Adley Rutschman came up with the bases loaded and delivered a key two-run single in the seventh. Setup man Yennier Cano got himself out of a jam in the eighth. And Seranthony Dom¨ªnguez worked around a two-out single by Ceddanne Rafaela in the ninth to record his ninth save for Baltimore.

It was a much better all-around showing by the O¡¯s, who dropped the series opener, 12-3.

¡°I think we needed this win today to show us that we¡¯re still in a positive spot and we can win,¡± Su¨¢rez said. ¡°For us, it¡¯s a big win today.¡±

Every win matters at this point, as the Orioles try to take back first place in the AL East and win their second consecutive division title. (Or, at the least, ensure they stay where they¡¯re at atop the Wild Card standings so they could host a Wild Card Series, rather than go on the road.)

With 16 games to go, Baltimore (25-25 in the second half) is hoping this could be the start of a roll that helps it heat up going into October.

¡°Clean win for us. I think this was one of those wins we¡¯re looking for,¡± Mullins said. ¡°Just looking for that momentum swing, and that¡¯s a big start right there.¡±