batting practice

Charlie Manuel plans to manage the Philadelphia Phillies against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS despite the death of his mother.

The Phillies said that June Manuel died Friday morning. No other information was immediately available. Manuel watched batting practice from his customary spot behind the cage, but did not talk to the media and his usual pregame press conference was canceled.

Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell was in the lineup Wednesday for Game 1 of the division series a day after he left a workout because of discomfort in his lower back.

Burrell looked fine taking swings during batting practice and was batting fifth for the Phillies in the best-of-five division series against Milwaukee.

The left fielder hit .250 with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs. Burrell arrived at Citizens Bank Park early Wednesday for exercises and light running.

Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell left Tuesday's workout because of discomfort in his lower back, a day before Philadelphia opens the NL playoffs.

The Phillies and Milwaukee play Game 1 on Wednesday afternoon. Burrell will be checked before the game. Burrell exited after taking a swing in batting practice.

Randy Johnson threw batting practice for the first time this spring on Thursday and called it no big deal. "I don't think there's anything really to discuss until I actually start getting into a game," Johnson said after throwing about 50 pitches.

"I mean, I'm not going to push it or anything throwing batting practice." It was the first time the 44-year-old lefty has thrown to batters since he underwent back surgery in August, his second such operation in less than a year.

Roger Clemens will throw batting practice to minor leaguers this week at the Houston Astros' spring training camp.

Jimmy Stanton, director of media relations for the team, said Clemens is expected to show up at the minor-league complex Tuesday, but would not work with the players.

Clemens will throw Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, he said. Clemens informed the Astros that he won't answer any questions from the media, Stanton said.

The Astros' minor leaguers opened a minicamp on Monday.

Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge is expected to miss three to six weeks after having surgery Monday on his right knee.

The team said the operation was successful. The 31-year-old right-hander, Philadelphia's biggest offseason acquisition, caught a spike in the mound on his first pitch of batting practice Saturday.

Phillies closer Brad Lidge is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday and could miss the regular-season opener.

Lidge, Philadelphia's biggest offseason acquisition, limped off the field Saturday after injuring his knee when he caught a spike in the mound on his first pitch of batting practice.

Doctors removed torn cartilage from the same knee in October.

Phillies closer Brad Lidge is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday and could miss the regular-season opener.

Lidge, Philadelphia's biggest offseason acquisition, limped off the field Saturday after injuring his knee when he caught a spike in the mound on his first pitch of batting practice.