Dash & Surge

This business of a different guy stepping up every night never gets old!

Pat Burrell, struggling as mightily as he ever has in his long topsy turvy tenure in Philadelphia, blasted a three run homer in the eight inning last night padding the Phillies thin 3-2 margin at the time. Always something of an enigma, the stoic Burrell has said little about his slump, 3 for his last 24 prior to the homer, but one thing was clear: he wanted to contribute and he wanted to win.

Burrell's blast became all the more important when Ryan Madson, closing in place of an exhausted Brad Lidge, nearly gave up a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to pinch-hitter Brian McCann but survived to shut down the Braves and clinch the Phils victory. With the win the Phillies opened up a 2.5 game lead on the Mets, who lost to the Cubs in New York. For those who doubted the Cubs would give their all in these final games against the Mets having already clinched the Central Division title, last night's effort should put an end to such thinking. Right now the Cubbies are playing for home field advantage if not pride.

The Phillies win was marked by a number of stellar plays highlighted by pinch-runner Greg Golson's dash to third base on an errant pick-off attempt and later his scoring from third on a ground out by Jayson Werth. Replays showed Golson just got in under the tag. Along the way Jimmy Rollins threw a runner out at the plate and Pedro Feliz dived to his left and threw a runner out at first while on his knees.

J.A. Happ, facing the Braves for the second time in a week (more than a few observers felt the rookie lefty should have been held back for Washington given this would be the Braves second look at him), held them to 2 earned runs in 6.2 innings. Happ betrays little emotion on the mound, going about his business in methodical silence. His two victories, however, speak volumes coming late in the season under intense pressure.

With five games remaining the Phillies are in excellent position to make it to the post-season. The best part is they don't have to wait for someone else to help them; they hold their destiny in their own hands. For a club with a history of late season surges that's just the way they like it.