BOSTON -- After a topsy-turvy six months that included surprising hot streaks, untimely cold streaks, injuries to key players and also growth from a young core, perhaps it’s only fitting that the Red Sox wound up at 81-81.

This, after a 3-1 victory over the Rays on Sunday afternoon put the Red Sox in third place in the American League East -- a modest improvement after being the fifth-place squad the previous two seasons, with back-to-back 78-84 records.

“In the clubhouse, there’s a lot of disappointment,” manager Alex Cora said. “I still believe we had a chance to make it to the playoffs and didn't play well towards the end, and that's the reason we're going home as an organization. But I think we took a step forward from where we were last year. There were a lot of good things that happened this year.

“I think, as far as structure and the vision, we're getting there. There’s no moral victories and all that -- whatever. But I think we actually did take a step forward. Position-player wise, we’re in a good spot. And the pitching, it's getting better. We’re going home knowing what might happen in the offseason and where we’re going next year.”

In fact, Cora stated multiple times this week that “I think this is the last time we’re going to struggle.”

Enthused by the improvement of the starting pitching this season, Cora believes the Red Sox can snap what is now a three-year postseason drought, the club’s longest since 2010-12.

Another young pitcher showed up on Sunday as righty Quinn Priester, the prospect acquired from the Pirates on July 29, had a strong showing in his first start for Boston. Over five innings, Priester allowed one run on four hits, walking one and striking out two to earn the win.

“Good stuff, threw strikes and we played good defense behind him,” Cora said. “Turned a few double plays, kept the ball on the ground, so it was good.”

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Jarren Duran, unquestionably Boston’s best player this season, sparked a two-run rally in the third with a one-out single and scored on Vaughn Grissom’s RBI double off the Green Monster. Grissom, one of the players impacted by injuries, is hoping to play a key role next season.

“It was a long season,” said Duran, who started 160 games. “I thought we did some great things. We had our bumps in the road, but all in all, I think we had a really good season. We had some young guys who had to learn their bumps in the big leagues, which is good, but they came out stronger. I’m just excited about what they’re going to be able to do in the years to come.”

With the Hot Stove season commencing in November, the Red Sox will learn more about the construction of the roster for 2025.

One key question will be if free agent Tyler O’Neill, who belted 31 homers in 411 at-bats, will return. If not, the Red Sox will have a big right-handed bat to replace in a lineup that is already too balanced to the left, as chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has acknowledged many times.

“I think it was an awesome year, getting to experience Boston, calling Fenway my home ballpark for a season and getting to know my teammates,” O’Neill said. “Wouldn’t want to change it for anything. I think we accomplished a lot of good things this season. We went through good stretches and bad stretches, but we did it together. Unfortunately, we missed by a few games this year, but they’ve got something good cooking over here in the Boston organization, so we’ll see what happens.”