Dustin Pedroia slides safely into second base with a steal as Hanley Ramirez goes high to collect the throw.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia isn't shy on or off the field, as he showed again Wednesday night.

The new Sox leadoff hitter had another big night, getting three hits and driving in three. He also had two stolen bases, which were the items he was happiest to talk about.

He now has 12 stolen bases on the season. Jacoby Ellsbury, who was batting in the two hole behind Pedroia, had a home run, his third of the year. Pedroia was asked if he and Ellsbury have switched roles, not just in the batting order, but with Pedroia providing the speed and Ellsbury the power.

"I let him know that," Pedroia said. "I think I'm more of a base stealer than he is."

Pedroia has 12 on the season. Ellsbury also had one and now has 28.

Such talk is just Pedroia being Pedroia. He now has reached base in 15 of his last 16 games, with 15 hits, nine walks and once being hit by a pitch. His work in this victory included a bases-loaded single in the fourth to right-center that drove in two runs.

"It felt good. I need to stay inside the ball," Pedroia said of getting hits to center and right.

"He swung the bat good last night and tonight," manager Terry Francona said of Pedroia's five hits in the last two games. "He's using the entire field. When you see Pedey reaching down and hitting balls to right field, and hitting balls up the middle, then more often than not someone will try to come inside and he'll turn on it. He's back covering the ball again and using the whole field."

"Millsy (bench coach Brad Mills) made a comment to me," about Pedroia, Francona related "He goes, `I don't think they know what to do. If you elevate, which used to try to do, he gets on top of it. You throw a ball a foot off the plate and he hits it to right.' I think there are times when Pedey is feeling good about himself that it probably doesn't matter."

Pedroia feels the Sox are peaking.

"We're pitching and playing good defense now," the reigning MVP said. "It seems like the bats are coming around. If we keep it up we're going to go on a good run."

pkenyon @projo.com