Panamanian Manny Corpas picks up dad to watch him play the World Series

DENVER (AP) -Manny Corpas rarely shows emotion and hardly ever rattles, ingredients that make for a good closer. Friday was different for the Colorado reliever. After the Rockies' off-day workout before Game 3 of the World Series, Corpas was headed to the airport to pick up his father, Manuel.

"This is his first time in Denver, in the U.S., and of course a World Series,'' Corpas said. "For me it's a special moment, very important. Most of the season, I'm alone. It's really something having him at my side in a stage like this.''

Manny Corpas, born in Panama, was drafted by the Rockies as a 16-year-old in 1999 and made his major league debut on July 18, 2006. His father hasn't seen him pitch in the majors except on TV.

Benny Quintero, Corpas' agent, said Manuel Corpas had tried three times before to travel from Panama to the United States to watch his son play in the majors, but was rejected each time.

They enlisted the help of U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado, who helped Manuel Corpas obtain a tourist visa.

The closer's mother, Florencia, will watch the games from Panama.

"She gets very nervous with planes,'' Corpas said. "But I'm working on trying to bring here soon, perhaps next year, so she can see me pitch in the majors.''