The reporter walks up to Damian Jackson in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse. While the rest of the media horde swoops in on Kevin Millar, Johnny Damon and Bill Mueller, Jackson looks surprised as he adjusts his tie.

“I don’t get many interviews throughout a season,” says the utility infielder/outfielder.

He should get a few more of them.

Jackson may not be the most valuable player on the Sox roster. In fact, he’s not even close. Still, he might just be the team’s most versatile performer. He can play all three outfield positions and has already notched an assist from left, right and center this season. He can back up Mueller at third, and Nomar Garciaparra at short.

His best position of all is second base. That’s where Jackson’s value has risen of late. Todd Walker is a strong offensive player, but his range at second is questionable. And Walker’s bat has cooled off, so Jackson has picked up a bit more playing time.

He started the final two games of this week’s crucial series in Oakland, and the Sox won both after losing the first two. Jackson scored two runs in Wednesday’s win over Mark Mulder and dropped down a perfect 10th-inning bunt that advanced the eventual winning run in Thursday’s come-from-behind thriller.

The Sox have won many games by swinging big bats, but you’ve got to execute the little moves to win critical late-season games in a pennant race.

“We should probably be a little better at our small ball,” said Damon. “It was great to display it just to show it’s part of our arsenal.”

Red Sox manager Grady Little has been using all the weapons in his arsenal this week. Facing four consecutive lefties, he put out a different lineup each night. Giving his top hitters a rest, Little turned to his bench and got big results.

“We have a lot of confidence in every guy here,” said Jackson. “Gabe Kapler. Dave McCarty has the ability to hit the ball a long way.

“The Boston Red Sox don’t miss a beat when we’re in there playing. I don’t want Grady to just put us in when we’re up 3-0 in a series, or 2-0 in a three-game series, that it’s totally different if we’re in there.”

You’ll be seeing more of Jackson in these final six weeks of the season. Even when Walker starts, Jackson may come in for a late-game defensive boost.

“Infield defense is important this time of year in particular,” Little said. “You can’t afford to be giving away outs, and Damian Jackson has done a great job for us wherever we play him. He’ll probably be getting utilized a lot from now on. “We’re going to need every one of these players.”

For much of this season, “D.J.” has watched in awe as his team smashes out multi-run inning after multi-run inning. Now things are getting tighter, and opposing pitchers are getting tougher. A key play at second or a sacrifice bunt can make all the difference. Jackson’s value is going up as the stakes are getting higher.

“I’m a huge fan of everybody on our staff,” said Jackson. “If we hit and pitch like we can, we’re going to be great.”

The way he’s playing, Jackson is winning more and more fans back home.

You won’t see his name in the starting lineup very often, but his work late in the game could prove to be just the finishing touch the Sox need down the stretch.

Lewiston native Tom Caron covers the Red Sox for NESN.

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