LOS ANGELES — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino came bounding up the tunnel from the visitors' clubhouse at Dodger Stadium yesterday, a couple of dozen journalists trailing closely behind.

"Hey, Moses," a teammate playfully called out.

But while Victorino was simply leading the reporters to the end of the dugout, on the field his postseason performance might be leading the Phillies to the Promised Land.

A solid if unspectacular player heading into the playoffs, Victorino has shone when the spotlight was hottest and now has Philadelphia a win away from the World Series heading into Game 5 of the National League Championship Series tonight.

And the St. Anthony alum from Maui has done it in every way imaginable.

With his bat, the switch-hitting Victorino has hit home runs from both sides of the plate, belting a game-winning grand slam off Milwaukee's CC Sabathia in the division series and hitting a game-tying two-run home run off the Dodgers' Cory Wade in Game 4 of the NLCS Monday en route to a franchise-record 11 postseason RBIs.

With his feet, Victorino forced Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal into a hurried throw on a routine grounder in Game 1. The resulting error led to a three-run rally and a 3-2 win.

And with his glove, Victorino robbed the Dodgers' Casey Blake of at least two RBIs with a spectacular leaping catch at the center-field wall in Game 2 of the NLCS, preserving an 8-5 victory.

"He's been arguably the best asset for our postseason right now," backup outfielder Geoff Jenkins said. "There's always that one guy in the postseason that you don't think is going to have big (games). And so maybe Shane's that guy.

"He's awesome."

Which is the why the Dodgers — and every other team in baseball — have to be kicking themselves. Because while the Dodgers had first shot at Victorino, taking the four-sport high school star in the sixth round of the 1999 draft, he was twice up for grabs in the Rule V draft — baseball's version of a clearance sale — for $50,000.

After the San Diego Padres took him and then returned him to the Dodgers, the Phillies eventually took a chance on him and in 2005, his first season with the franchise, he batted .310 with career highs for home runs (18) and RBIs (70) at Triple-A Scranton to win the International League's MVP award.

Some members of the Philadelphia front office credit the turnaround to the team doctor who diagnosed Victorino with attention deficit disorder and prescribed medicine to help him deal with the condition. Others, however, cite more traditional reasons.

"He matured as a player," said assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who played a part in the decisions both to sign Victorino, then to trade away All-Star Bobby Abreu a year later to create playing time for him.

And Victorino, 27, seized that opportunity, leading the Phillies in sacrifice bunts (eight) and outfield assists (11) while going the entire season without committing an error.

"He brought a little more energy to the team," general manager Pat Gillick agreed. "Victorino's one of those guys who's got passion, he's got intensity and a guy that, when you see him, he likes to play."

His Triple-A manager, Gene Lamont, called Victorino the best center fielder he had seen since Andy Van Slyke, a five-time Gold Glove winner. So last winter the Phillies created another hole for Victorino — this one in center field — by letting popular Aaron Rowand leave as a free agent.

And again Victorino seized the opportunity, batting a career-high .293, scoring 102 runs and stealing 36 bases.

"He's come a long ways. But he's got tremendous talent," said Charlie Manuel, Philadelphia's soft-drawling manager. "What do you want me to say about him? He's been outstanding."

Especially in the postseason, with team-highs of eight hits, 11 RBIs, 19 total bases and three steals.