FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -J.D. Drew emerged upright from the Red Sox clubhouse with a one-word description for how his back felt.

``Terrible,' he said, as a grin spread across his face. ``Write stories about that. We'll have a lot of fun tomorrow.'

That would be a big change.

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In a very quiet Boston camp without newsmakers Manny Ramirez and Curt Schilling, the talk has turned to injuries.

Drew's lower back is fine after he received an injection Monday to reduce inflammation. Josh Beckett's side feels good with an offseason of rest. And pitcher Brad Penny's shoulder seems to be better.

That's what players and manager Terry Francona say.

``I don't know if anybody believes me,' Francona said before Drew had a single in two at_bats in Friday's 5-3 win over the Florida Marlins. ``He was OK.'

Jeff Bailey hit a go-ahead two-run double against Taylor Tankersley in a three-run fifth after Cameron Maybin's solo homer and an RBI double by John Baker tied the game 2-2 in the top of the inning.

Boston had taken a 2-0 lead in the second off Chris Volstad on Zach Daeges' two-run homer.

Drew had flown to Boston last Sunday for the injection to his facet joint and was back the next day. He returned to the lineup as the designated hitter Friday but said he could have played right field. Francona said that would happen Sunday.

Drew finds speculation that his back may be worse than he's letting on quite amusing.

``I very seldom ever read any stories,' Drew said. ``I caught a few of those. They were pretty funny.'

The Red Sox and Drew wanted to see how he would react to the injection in case he needed one during the season. He thinks it will provide more flexibility and, perhaps, prevent a recurrence of the herniated disk that caused him to miss most of the last six weeks of last season.

``It seems to have knocked down some of the inflammation. I don't feel as stiff,' he said, ``and we're only three to four days into the recovery time of that. It usually takes five to seven days to fully kick in.'

He said he'd be able to have a total of three or four injections in a year but is hopeful he won't need anymore.

``I'm having a good spring,' Drew said. ``The thing that matters is when I show up in April and ready to go and play the season. Down here it's just about getting enough work in to prepare yourself.

``We've got a long ways to go down here and I'll be ready when the season rolls around.'

The Red Sox can use him in the middle of the order.

Last year when David Ortiz was sidelined from June 1 to July 24, Drew hit .302 with 14 homers in 42 games.

``He pretty much carried us,' catcher Jason Varitek said. ``He's proven when he's healthy and he's playing he's a big potent part of our lineup.'

Beckett hurt his back last year while warming up for his first spring training game against a major league team, the Marlins, and didn't face a batter in the exhibition season. Then he ended the season with a strained side muscle.

``Things started off for him on a rough spot last year where he got hurt in spring and he had to play catchup ever since,' Varitek said.

Beckett's been sharp this spring. He allowed three hits in three scoreless innings after giving up no hits in four shutout innings in his two previous outings.

But how's his side?

``I guess I'm going to have to answer this every start for the whole year,' Beckett said. ``You definitely think about it. You think about the coincidences that I was pitching against the Marlins today.

``I try to give myself positive affirmation that I'm healthy and everything's going good.'

There's no great concern about Penny either after he cut short his last bullpen session when he couldn't get loose and missed his scheduled start Thursday against Puerto Rico. He's scheduled to throw a side session Sunday after being examined Friday by team physician Dr. Thomas Gill.

``It was nice to hear Tom come in and say he got a good examination,' Francona said.