Former Sam Houston State pitcher Robert Manuel wasn’t even in Philadelphia when the Cincinnati Reds were dealt a 22-1 pounding by the Phillies on Monday, but there’s no doubt that he’ll remember that game forever.
In a clubhouse in Indianapolis after his Triple-A Louisville team played its game, Manuel was watching highlights on television of the Reds’ loss when he got the word from manager Rick Sweet that he was going to the big leagues for the first time.
“It was real weird,” Manuel said Tuesday after his arrival to Citizens Bank Park. “There were too many people in the room and they were all around me for some reason. I was just paying attention to the highlights. He said they might need somebody to pitch in Cincy. I looked around and every one of the guys standing up were position players and starters. (Sweet) was looking at me. I thought he was talking to somebody behind me and was joking around.”
This was no joke, especially for a Reds bullpen that pitched 11 1/3 innings over the past two games — both big blowout losses. Cincinnati still had six more games to go before the All-Star break.
Manuel, who pitched at SHSU in 2005, was 3-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 32 appearances for Louisville with eight saves in nine chances.
In 43 innings, the right-hander from Bellaire High School in Houston allowed 33 hits, 12 earned runs, nine walks, two homers and struck out 33. Opponents batted .209 against him and interestingly, it was lefties who fared worse by hitting .169 (10-for-59).
Manuel, who had not pitched for Louisville since Friday, began the season as a middle reliever but eventually moved to setting up and closing. He has experience throwing multiple innings and developed a changeup to get him through longer outings to go with his fastball and slider.
