The spark came out of left field

NEW YORK -- There's a certain energy about Johnny Damon. It can inspire a team, fill a room with laughter, and create an atmosphere in which you want to come to work every day.

But that has not been Johnny Damon's demeanor for most of this season.

"Are you saying I've been a miserable [expletive] all year," quipped Damon last night when asked about his mood.

Through injuries, the loss of his center-field job, and the Yankees' up-and-down campaign, Damon didn't have that bounce to his step. But, lately, it has returned.

The former Red Sox center fielder, who led a Band of Idiots to a world championship in 2004, smacked a two-run homer in the seventh inning to right off Daisuke Matsuzaka -- a ball that couldn't have gone more than 315 feet -- to lead the Yankees to a 5-3 win over the Sox last night.

"That's who we saw last year," said Yankees manager Joe Torre, referring to Damon's uplifting personality. "It's infectious the way he gets all pumped up and it just infiltrates a team.

"When you're not feeling well, it's tough to put on a show when it's not sincere. By not sincere, I mean he wasn't feeling good enough to make it believable. But he's been a big part of what's been happening with us lately."

He was hired away from the Red Sox to play center field at Yankee Stadium, where Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio once roamed. He was thrilled to be mentioned in the same breath. He was a leadoff man who could hit for power, and he infused life into the Yankees lineup last season -- though he and his teammates faltered in the Division Series against the Tigers.

Where did it all go? From the moment Damon arrived in spring training, he clearly was ailing. Back, calves, rib cage, legs, you name it. Damon probably should have been spending time on the disabled list -- for what would have been the first time in his career.

All along, we thought it was some kind of macho thing with Damon, but yesterday he said it wasn't his call. He said the Yankees wanted to keep him activated because they didn't have a better option.

So he persevered and tried to get through the most difficult of circumstances. But he never looked like the Damon of old until recently.

And that was well after he lost the center-field job to Melky Cabrera and since Jason Giambi returned from the disabled list.

It has been catch as catch can as to where he's inserted in the lineup.

Last night it was left field, where he's made 15 starts. He ignited the Yankees' two-run first inning with a single off Matsuzaka, then connected for the game's biggest hit in the seventh. He even took a curtain call, doffing his cap to the left and then to the right. Right in front of him were John Henry and Larry Lucchino.

No matter. Damon is getting his stroke back. And he's getting his career back in order.

"I think it was important for our team," Damon said. "We cut [the lead in the AL East] down to seven, but the biggest part is that we won. We have to take care of ourselves and win games, and now that I'm healthy, I feel I can help this team do that.

"I'm feeling good again. Before, I didn't have a rhythm because I was playing sparingly. But now I'm in there and leading off and it just feels like it always has.

"It's taken a long time. But I'm here now."

With Hideki Matsui nursing a sore knee, Damon may be playing a lot more left field. He has DHed 42 times, but Torre likes the energy Damon brings when he's playing the outfield.

"I'll be back in center field," vowed Damon, who is batting .435 (27 for 62) with 20 runs, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 17 RBIs, and 9 walks when he starts in left. "Whether it's here or someplace else. I think I'll play center field again."

He understands that he's at the point where he needs to survive, needs to be to the Yankees what he was to the Red Sox in 2004. He's with a team that desperately needs his spark.

"No, I haven't lost anything," Damon said. "I was just a victim of getting hurt. My body didn't do me any favors. When I had the back thing, I was able to go back [home] to Orlando and see my chiropractor, and he got my back straightened out again.

"When you're not feeling well, no matter how hard you try in this game, and try to tune out your injuries, you're going to be limited physically. So it wasn't easy earlier this year. I couldn't do the things I'm used to doing. But now, hopefully, that's behind me."

He can't deny Cabrera's ability.

"He makes a huge difference out there," said Damon. "He probably has the best arm of any center fielder in baseball. When you can stop runs from scoring from center field . . . there aren't too many guys who can do that. The only guys who can do it are maybe Torii Hunter, maybe Ichiro, maybe Andruw Jones.

"But what I'm finding out is your career changes and you have to find ways to keep your job and keep being a guy who can make a difference on your team."

Damon hasn't objected to playing left and would take the role if offered to him next season. He's getting used to playing the ball at a different angle and feels his lack of arm strength isn't as much of a factor there.

As for next season, right fielder Bobby Abreu is a free agent, and right now there are no plans to re-sign him. Will Damon survive if Abreu goes? Or will the Yankees try to move him?

"You'll have to ask Brian Cashman that," said Damon. "I have no idea on what is going to happen. Once the season is over, I'll go into hiding and just wait to hear what they're going to do."

Even last night, after his heroics, Damon was trying to say the right things and be a stand-up team guy.

This can't be easy for Damon, who thought he'd be the Yankees' center fielder for the remainder of his career.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.