Mother of Phillies manager dies

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- June Manuel, the mother of Philadelphia Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel died Friday morning in Buena Vista, Va., after a brief illness. She was 87.

Charlie Manuel, 64, was in uniform when his team beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 Friday to grab a 2-0 lead in their National League Championship Series.

He watched batting practice, but canceled his scheduled pre-game news conference Friday afternoon when told of his mother's death at the same house where she raised 11 children.

"As an organization, we're all about family first," Phillies assistant General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said on the team's Web site. "We left it up to Charlie as to what he wants to do. We support him. I can tell you that I know he loves this team and his players. He's a baseball man. That's who he is."

"She was praying for us to be here," said shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

"Our hearts go out to Charlie and the Manuel family at this most difficult time," said Phillies General Partner, President and Chief Executive Officer David Montgomery.