DURHAM, NC – With a crowd of 9,537 gathered for fireworks on the eve of Independence Day, the Norfolk Tides experienced an unusual defeat last Wednesday night as the Durham Bulls secured a 3-2 win in 11 innings. The highlight? Backup catcher Rob Brantly, who took the mound and earned a save with just three pitches.
The Bulls, with a depleted bullpen, were forced to improvise. After using four pitchers in the first 10 innings, Durham manager Morgan Ensberg turned to 34-year-old catcher Rob Brantly. This marked his second pitching appearance since 2018 and the sixth of his career. Astonishingly, Brantly achieved a three-out save on three pitches, with first baseman Bob Seymour catching Kyle Stowers’ line drive, left fielder Jake Mangum making a running catch of Coby Mayo’s liner, and Garrett Cooper popping out to Seymour in foul territory.
Durham got off to a strong start with Kameron Misner hitting a home run. However, Norfolk’s pitchers, including starter Bruce Zimmermann and relievers Brandon Young and Matt Krook, kept the Bulls at bay. Young pitched four scoreless innings, while Krook managed to keep the Bulls scoreless until the ninth inning.
Bulls starter Jeffrey Springs was also impressive, striking out six and allowing no runs and three hits over four innings in a rehabilitation assignment from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Norfolk took the lead in the eighth inning with a two-run homer by Stowers. However, Durham responded in the ninth, tying the game when René Pinto reached base on a wild pitch, and Seymour’s infield single allowed Pinto to score.
In the 11th inning, Mangum, who started at second base, scored on a wild pitch by Luis González, coupled with a throwing error by catcher Connor Pavolony. Brantly then sealed the victory with his remarkable three-pitch save.
Before turning professional, Brantly played high school baseball at Chaparral High School and college baseball for the University of California, Riverside. The Washington Nationals drafted Brantly out of high school in the 46th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, but Brantly did not sign as he opted to attend college instead.
Rob Brantly’s professional baseball career began when the Detroit Tigers drafted him in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2012 and has since played for several teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, and San Francisco Giants.
Despite not being drafted as a pitcher, Brantly has occasionally stepped into the role. His six pitching appearances since 2017 include a 7.71 ERA with two strikeouts, four walks, and now, one save.
Signed to a minor league contract by the Tampa Bay Rays in January 2024, Brantly currently serves as a backup catcher for the Durham Bulls.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
