by By STEVE BUCKLEY , The Boston Herald

It wasn't just a compliment.

It was a clue.

``That's when I found out I was batting leadoff,'' said Drew, who was inserted in the top spot in the order for last night's series opener against the Baltimore Orioles.

The move paid off, as Drew went 3-for-5 in a 4-0 Sox victory. Following a triple in the first inning, a home run in the fourth and a single in the sixth, Drew came to bat in the eighth needing a double to become the first Red Sox player since John Valentin in 1996 to hit for the cycle.

Alas, he grounded out to second.

But what a night for Drew. He sliced a pitch from Jason Berken to left-center field for his first-inning triple, and his home run to center, again off the Orioles starter, was hit so high and deep to center that he was on his way to second base by the time the ball cleared the fence.

``When J.D. hits the ball to center and left-center with authority . . .,'' manager Terry Francona started to say, before jumping ahead to the punch line: ``He took some good swings. And they're always welcome.''

Drew entered the night with only 234 career at-bats as a leadoff hitter, and his average from the top spot was just .244. He has hit significantly better in other spots in the order - including .268 batting second, .299 at No. 3, .282 in the cleanup role and .302 as the fifth guy. The only spot in the order where he has a lower average than No. 1 is No. 6, where in 420 career at-bats he's a .243 hitter.

``Leading off's not my favorite spot,'' Drew said. ``But it's one of those situations where you just fill in as needed. And it worked tonight.''

Naturally, Drew was asked if when he came to bat in the eighth inning he knew he had a shot at the cycle.

``Absolutely,'' he said. ``There's not a player alive who wouldn't know he needed a double for the cycle in that situation.'' An admission followed.

``I was trying to hit a double.''

And how does one try to hit a double?

``I don't know how you try,'' he said. ``I was just going to hit the ball and run straight to second.''

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