Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 68

PHILLIES Opponents hitting bottom By MARCUS HAYES hayesmphillynews.com Associated Press Aaron Rowand dusts himself off after being forced out in seventh. Those are the guys you've really got to bear down and get out." Myers continued the trend. "He made a mistake to the pitcher," Manuel said. The mistake, in the fourth, put him in a 2-0 hole. "I just didn't execute," Myers said.

What else was there to say? Well, there was this from shortstop Jimmy Rollins: "You've got to respect pitcher s. You can't just throw lollipop pitches up there." Fasano's paisanos The Padilla Flotilla set sail for Texas, where, one would assume, it now works in concert with Millwood's Militia. The Duck Pond has been dry for almost 3 years and the Wolf Pack's leader has a bad paw. Vicente Padilla, Kevin Millwood and Brandon Duckworth are gone; Randy Wolf, hurt. Their ATLANTA The good news: Phillies pitchers are holding their opponents' top six hitter to a .250 average.

The bad news: The No. 7 through No. 9 hitters are hitting .370 (30-for-81) with 16 RBI. Pitcher are 6-for-17 with three RBI. Yes, pitcher s.

Starter John Thomson, a reliever who replaced injured Horacio Ramirez, paired a two-run double with his single off Brett Myers. The double drove in seventh hitter Brian McCann and eighth hitter Wilson Betemit. "That's absolutely amazing marveled manager Charlie Manuel. "In order for us to win games think about it we've got to get the bottom of the lineup out. fan clubs have been replaced by Sal's Pals.

It's the new, hip, retro fan group Four fans on Sunda welcomed new backup catcher Sal Fasano by hanging a banner in the rightfield stands and either growing or gluing on replicas of Fasano's trademark Fu Manchu with long, black curls flowing from under their hats. When Fasano went to the bullpen to warm up a pitcher they flocked down to pay him tribute Fasano was touched. "They're awesome. I called my wife Kerri. She was mad she didn't see them," said Fasano 34.

"I've never had a fan club before. That's my first sign. Ever." Of course, getting the look just right requires specific ethnic advantages, Fasano said. "It's easy growth if you can connect the goatee and the mustache he said. "It takes a certain hairy Italian to grow that." You da man Actually, that's what both Shane Victorino and Alex Gonzalez said about each other when the subject of who the Phillies' emergency catcher is.

One of them would have had to replace backup Sal Fasano if he had gotten hurt in Game 1 of Sunday's DAILY NEWS doublehea der after Fasano pinch-hit then replaced starter Mike Lieberthal late in the game "Who warms up the pitcher between innings?" asked Gonzalez, 33 on Saturday, who never has caught before. "No, no, no, it's him," said Victorino, 25. "Uh-uh. I've got seniority," Gonzalez insisted. Actually, the final say goes to Charlie Manuel, who, for the moment, prefers Gonzalez' soft hands toVictorino's youth and agility.

Neither is certain that they wouldn't blink if they had to catch a swinging strike. Pass the Dutchie Two nights after ESPN ran a similar feature, tonight at 10 p.m. on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" Mary Carillo interviews former Phillies catcher Darren "Dutch" Daulton and his associates concerning his recent experienc es with metaphysics and the manuscript he has prepared on the subject. The Daily News and the Web site for Sports Illustrated each wrote stories on Daulton's musings in February. Phillers Braves third baseman Chipper Jones sprained his right knee and his right ankle when his cleat caught in the soggy Safeco turf charging a ball in San Francisc on Sunday night.

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list before last night's home opener against the Phillies. He will be replaced on the Braves roster before tomorrow's game Atlanta shuffled its bullpen, farming out Joey Devine and calling up Australian Peter Moy-lan Phillies 3B David Bell went 2-for-3 with a walk and made three superb plays in the field. HOME RUN PAYOFF I IN PAYj 2006 PLAY HOME RUN PAYOFF AND WIN BIG! Giles, Liberty Bell title games today batter in the inning. If your name is called and your player hits a home run in that inning, you'll win $1,000. If he hits a grand slam, you'll win $10,0001.

And even if your player doesn't hit a home run, you'll still win Premium Phillies items in a Phillies Gift Pack! First, fill out the coupon below and get it in. Then, listen to the Phillies on WPHT-1210 or WIP-610 radio. At the start of each game, the announcers will tell you which inning is the Home Run Payoff inning. Then, during that inning, they'll read a selected contestant's name for each 5 winners There were five winners in the Daily News Home Run Payoff contest last night. Each winning a Phillies Gift Pack in the fifth inning of the Phil-lies-Braves game were: Stephen Slaven, of Sicklerville N.J.; John Bergen, of Pittston Township; Carl Blank, of Langhorne; and Philadelphians Frank Jacquindo and Leon Cerullo The Daily News pays $1,000 for a home run hit in the Payoff inning and $10,000 for a grand slam.

Contestants whose batter fails to hit a home run receive a gift pack, which includes a variety of Phillies-r elated items. You can hear the Payoff inning on WPHT (1210-AM) during each Phillies radio broadcast. Today's coupon is on Page 68. YES, MAKE ME A PART OF HOME RUN PAYOFF Mail to: Home Run Payoff, Philadelphia Daily News, P.O. Box41724, PA 19101 sion I teams, Lafayette faces La Salle at 8 p.m.

It is the first time the two teams have advanced to the championship game in the tournament's 15-year history. Lafayette advanc ed by beating defending champion Villano va, 12-10, and La Salle beat Delaware, 7-2. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the First Base Gate ticket window. Gates open at 3:15 p.m. Parking is free in Lot located on Darien Street.

The championship games of the Bill Giles Invitational and the Liberty Bell Classic will be played today at Citizens Bank Park. In the Giles final for Division II baseball teams, West Chester will be seeking its fourth consecutiv title when it faces Philadelphia University at 4 p.m. Philadelphia University beat Wilmington College, 7-4, and West Chester knocked off the University of the Scienc es, 8-1, in the semifinals. In the Liberty Bell final for Divi- Name Address City State Home Phone Work Phone Please check here to verify you are 18 years of age or older. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of Phillies Gift Pack prize.

PAGE 68 PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS.