Going For The Gold

Ever since Sherman the march to victory has gone through Atlanta. Fortunately, Ryan Howard and the Phillies were up on their history.

On a night when Jamie Moyer struggled, Howard and the resurgent Phillies offense picked up the slack in coming back against the Braves for a dramatic 8-7 victory propelling them into first place in the NL East. Howard's two-run blast capped the Phils rally from a 7-4 deficit leading them to their fifth straight win. Coupled with the Mets 1-0 loss to Washington, the Phillies took a half game lead over the New Yorkers. Let the Mets and their legions talk Wild Card; the Phils are going for the gold, not the silver.

Howard has been other-worldly in the month of September but he hasn't been alone. Jimmy Rollins found the on-switch, Jayson Werth has solidified his place in the starting lineup, Shane Victorino has made believers out of nearly everyone and Ryan Madson continued his solid performances as the Phillies evoked memories of last season's late September run and the Mets collapse.

Eleven games remain in the regular season and all of them will be against teams aching to spoil the Phillies chances. It appears Howard & Co. wouldn't want it any other way.