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PHILADELPHIA -- With Charlie Manuel seated to his left, Ruben Amaro Jr. broke down in tears after announcing he fired his manager. It was that emotional for the general manager and many associated with the Philadelphia Phillies. Manuel was let go Friday in the middle of a terrible second half, ending the most successful run in club history. Hall of Famer and former Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, the Phillies third base coach, replaced Manuel for the start of a 10-game homestand. The Phillies didnt play any better for Sandberg and lost 4-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in his debut. They have lost 20 of 24. It wasnt an easy night, or day, for anyone in the organization. "You people may not know the relationship Ive had with Charlie. Hes a special person. This is difficult for me. I hope he stays in our organization," said Amaro, who took over as GM after Manuel led the Phillies to the World Series title in 2008. The managerial change didnt help Friday night. Zack Greinke (11-3) pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning and Hanley Ramirez homered to lead the streaking Dodgers to a victory over Sandberg and the slumping Phillies. "It was a roller coaster of a day emotionally," Sandberg said. "It affected me and I think it affects the players. ... Tomorrow hopefully well get back to work and the game goes on." The 69-year-old Manuel, the winningest manager in club history, was in the final year of his contract and wanted to manage another two or three seasons. "I never quit nothing and I didnt resign," Manuel said, making it clear he was pushed out the door. Manuel had been a folksy presence in the Phillies dugout since the beginning of the 2005 season. He wasnt a popular choice in Philadelphia when former GM Ed Wade hired him to replace Larry Bowa, but he became a beloved figure in a tough city. "I think were all a little upset, a little sad," second baseman Chase Utley said. "Its not easy to see the guy you play for, for nine years, not behind the batting cage right now watching batting practice. Its difficult. "Charlie brought out the most in his players. He was a man you could walk up to and he was the same every day. He was always going to give that positive energy and a lot of times that translated to the field." "I definitely enjoyed Charlie and liked playing for him," added left-hander Cliff Lee said. "I thought he did a good job. Its definitely our fault. We werent getting it done." Lee (10-6) pitched well on Friday night, but the Phillies couldnt provide any offence, finishing with three hits while getting shut out for the 11th time this season. Philadelphia hopes to turn things around under Sandberg. "Hes a quiet guy, but when he speaks everybody listens," All-Star slugger Domonic Brown said. "Guys definitely know he knows what hes talking about." Sandberg managed the Phillies Triple-A team at Lehigh Valley the previous two seasons. He was part of one the most lopsided trades in baseball history when the Phillies traded him and Bowa to the Cubs for shortstop Ivan DeJesus in 1982. "I must say that, for me, I recognize this day as Charlie Manuel Day," Sandberg said at his first news conference. "What hes meant to the Philadelphia Phillies organization, what hes meant to the fans, the championships, the World Series, hes tops in the organization for what he did here. I really enjoyed my nearly three years with him in spring training and being here in Septembers, and this year especially being with him on a daily basis. I wish Charlie the best with whatever he intends to do, and he left a big footprint here in Philadelphia." Amaro said Sandberg takes over on an interim basis and would be evaluated after the season. Sandberg inherits a team that dropped to 5-20 since the All-Star break and is 21 1/2 games out of first place. "These guys are professional players, theyre getting paid well," Sandberg said. "Sometimes players have to dig deeper, play with pride, play with heart and for the name on the front of the uniform." Manuel won his 1,000th game as manager on Monday in Atlanta. Two days later, he sat in the dugout knowing it would be his last game after Amaro informed him of the decision not to extend his contract. "I think sometimes people forget how much I love to win," Manuel said. "I think that goes unnoticed. I think sometimes I dont talk about it, because I push it to my team and how important it is. Every day, I say our No. 1 priority is to win the game. When we get away from that, we get into trouble. I love everything about managing, and I think for us, the last couple years to fall back, I get upset very much so. I want us to stay where we were at, I want to compete for a World Series every year." Manuel led Philadelphia to the franchises second World Series title in 2008 08 and brought the team back to the Series in 2009, when it lost to the Yankees in six games. Manuel was 780-636 with the Phillies and won five straight NL East titles from 2007-11. He also spent three years as manager with the Cleveland Indians, winning the AL Central in 2001. Even with an aging roster, the Phillies were expected to contend in the NL East this season, but the team has fallen apart. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay has missed most of the season with an injury. First baseman Ryan Howard also has been out with an injury. High-priced reliever Jonathan Papelbon has struggled to close, and apart from Utley and Brown, the Phillies havent hit much. "We let down not only him, we let down the organization, we let down the fans," said lefty Cole Hamels, who is 5-13. "But I think ultimately, we let each other down. We really have to get back up and discover who we are, and what were playing for. And go out there and do it." Manuels abrupt dismissal angered many fans, who called into talk-radio stations to express their bitterness. Most blame Amaro for the Phillies decline. Amaro has made several questionable moves since replacing Pat Gillick. His decision to give Howard a $125 million contract nearly two years before he was set to become a free agent has handcuffed the team financially along with other big-money deals. "This isnt a blame game," Amaro said. "Im not here to blame Charlie for our issues. We all have a part in it." Vans Toy Story Sale . PAUL, Minn. Vans Sk8 Low Sale . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. http://www.vanssalestore.com/vans-sk8-clearance.html . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Vans Slip On Cheap . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. Vans Shoes Clearance Sale . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant was back in the Chicago Cubs lineup Tuesday and apparently OK after an outfield collision 24-hours earlier that left him with a leg bruise.The run-in with Albert Almora Jr. while both pursued a fly ball also prompted an admonishment from Cubs manager Joe Maddon to be more watchful in the future.I didnt like it, I didnt like it at all, Maddon told said. When a player is camped, theres no reason to run a player off. ... It happens to every team throughout the course of the season, but I would like it not to happen again.The versatile Bryant has played in 31 games in the outfield this season, but was back at his normal third base spot Tuesday.He is not a player the Cubs could afford to lose for any significant part of the season, a worry Bryant himself shared when talking about how the Cubs lost Kyle Schwarber for the season in an April 7 outfield collision with Dexter Fowler.I was just kind of scared about the knee at first, Bryant said Tuesday. Im feeling better today, a lot better, nothing to prevent me from playing. I think I got lucky. Things could have been a lot worse.Bryant, voted in as an All-Star Game starter, felt so good that he clubbed his major-league-leading 25th home run of the season in the third inning Tuesday during the Cubs 9-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.He is batting .278 with 64 RBI, 19 doubles and a .578 slugging percentage.In the series finale Wednesday, Bryant will be batting against a pitcher who finally made his season debut last month after sustaining a spring training injury, and he will be fielding behind a pitcher who hasnt seen a lot of action as a starter.Chicago right-hander Adam Warren (3-1, 4.56 ERA) will be called up to make a spot start -- his first in a Cubs uniform -- after two outingss at Triple-A Iowa.ddddddddddddHe was acquired by the Cubs from the Yankees in December as part of a trade that sent Starlin Castro to New York. Warren began the season in Chicago and made 25 relief appearances before being optioned to Iowa on June 21.Warrens return is part of Maddons strategy to give his staff a breather during on ongoing run of 24 games in 24 days heading into the All-Star break.Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, meanwhile, will be making only his sixth appearance and start this season.He started 31 times for the Reds last year, but he spent much of this season on the disabled list with a strained left oblique that occurred in a final spring training appearance.DeSclafani (2-0, 1.78 ERA) went on to make late-April rehab starts for Double-A Pensacola and Class A Dayton before he felt soreness again in the muscle. He didnt make another rehab appearance until May 25, the first of three outings for Triple-A Louisville.He was activated off the disabled list on June 10 and made his season debut that night against the Oakland As, working six innings of one-run ball but getting no decision in a 2-1 Reds victory.DeSclafani worked just 2 2/3 innings in his next outing on June 16 at Atlanta and also had a no-decision.Everything clicked in his third outing, when he pitched seven innings and struck out six in an 8-2 win over the Texas Rangers. He then tossed a career-high eight innings on June 26 against the San Diego Padres in a 2-0 win.DeSclafani wasnt involved in the decision in his most recent start, Friday at Washington, when he worked 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball, striking out eight while walking two. ' ' '