BOSTON — Ho hum.

Just another basic great all-around game out of J.D. Drew, the kind of game the Red Sox are paying him $14 million per year for five years to produce.

Okay, so maybe Drew hasn’t always seemed to have earned that lofty salary since having been signed to the big contract before the 2007 season. But he's giving the Sox their money’s worth lately.

Drew continued his torrid MVP stretch by driving in both of the Red Sox’ runs in Boston’s 2-1 victory over Seattle Sunday in the rubber game of the three-game series at Fenway Park.

Drew’s first RBI was a bit painful: He was struck by a pitch on the right wrist by Seattle starter Erik Bedard with the bases full, forcing in the tying run in the third inning. Then, leading off the sixth, Drew launched a laser shot off reliever Sean Green that dropped into the bleachers in dead center.

Oh, and Drew also saved at least one run, and kept rookie starter Justin Masterson from falling into a spot of danger in the second inning, by running down Richie Sexson’s deep drive to right-center with none out and runners on first and second.

Ho hum.

Nothing new, at least recently, for Drew, who is batting .519 (14-for-27) with four homers, one triple, three doubles, 10 RBI, several scorched outs, numerous running catches and an outfield assist over his last eight games since returning from a bout with vertigo in Baltimore over a week ago.

Going even farther back, Drew is hitting .400 (22-for-55) with five homers, including a grand slam, and 14 RBI over his last 16 games, raising his average from .281 on May 17 to .318.

And, of course, the timing for his recent surge has been great. Since replacing the injured David Ortiz (wrist) in the number-three hole, Drew is batting .529 (9-for-17) with two homers and six RBI in five games.

The generally placid and polite Drew would prefer to let his on-field exploits do the talking for him, but the veteran knows that’s not possible these days.

"Okay, guys, let’s do it," said the taciturn Drew, almost reluctantly standing up to speak after pulling on his socks and sneakers a second or two after the clubhouse was open to the media.

Drew didn’t want to delve too deeply into an analysis of his surge.

"I just tried to pick up where I left off (Saturday)," said Drew, who went 3-for-5, including a homer and a triple, and knocked in two runs in Boston’s 11-3 triumph on Saturday.

"I don’t try to think about it too much, just play the same way," he said. "You don’t go through periods like this very often, so you take them as they come and try to expand on them. I’m just trying to get pitches I can handle and then put a good swing on them. It’s nice that some of the pitches are hitting the barrel of my bat."

Drew, though, is in a zone. Fundamentally and mechanically, he has been sound, hitting the ball where it has been pitched.

"It seems like he’s always in a hitter’s count and doing some damage," said batting coach Dave Magadan. "He’s taking breaking balls in the dirt that are out of the strike zone. He’s not getting fooled by changeups. It’s like he’s holding back (in starting his swing) just a clip, letting the ball travel a little deeper, which gives him the ability to recognize the pitch.

“He’s using the whole field. There’s no herky-jerkiness to his swing. It never looks like he’s rushing to the ball. He’s got a beautiful swing."

The difference between the Drew of the last few weeks and the Drew of 2007 is night and day.

"He’s a better hitter than he showed last year, for whatever reasons," said manager Terry Francona. "He has a beautiful swing. It’s fun to watch. Home runs are welcome, but he has more of a line-drive stroke, and when he gets under one a little, it can go out of the ballpark."

That’s what happened Sunday when Drew bashed his game-deciding homer. It was his eighth homer of the year, in his 175th at-bat. A year ago, Drew hit only 11 homers in 466 at-bats.

One constant, though, has been his defense. Francona pointed out that Drew tends to glide after balls, making it look as if he’s not hustling, but the manager said he covers a lot of ground.

Drew had to in the second inning. After a struggling Masterson walked the first two batters, Sexson tattooed a 1-and-0 pitch deep to right-center. Drew took off. As he reached the warning track, he looked back, took a little jump and gloved the ball for the out. The runner at second tagged and went to third and eventually scored on a groundout, but Drew’s catch blunted the uprising.

"I always feel, defensively, that I can make a play on pretty much everything," said Drew. "I’ve been fortunate to be able to run down some balls in big situations lately. I saw the ball well off Richie’s bat. I know when he hits the ball to right he tends to hit it to right-center. I got a good jump on it and made a nice play."

Ho hum.