Don’t look now, but after all the dust settled from last week’s free agent shuffle – where the Phils decided to hold ’em an the fans lamented that they actually were folding ’em – a glance at the National League standings might be in order.

There at the top of the heap are your Philadelphia Phillies. Not only that, but their cushion is actually growing.

After treating a national TV audience to the kind of sudden power they can display last night in dispatching the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4, the Phils are now sitting on a 2 1/2-half game lead in the NL East over the Marlins. The hated Mets are fumbling once again, now sputtering at three back.

Last night it was Shane Victorino’s turn to make a statement to all those lamenting he was not part of a blockbuster trade deadline deal. All Victorino did last night was come off the bench and supply the eighth-inning three-run homer that propelled the Phils to a win.

More good news. Other than a couple of home run balls, the Phils got another strong outing from Brett Myers. He went six innings and gave up just two runs on four hits.

Brad Lidge did his best Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams imitation to make things a little tense in the ninth, loading the bases before fanning the final two Cards’ batters to seal the deal. If you’re counting, that’s 28 saves in 28 opportunities for Lidge.

Don’t look now, but the Phils are in the driver’s seat in the NL East.

They return to the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park with a chance to put some more distance between themselves and the Fish. The Marlins are in town for three starting Tuesday night.