Bees delay start of Dodgers-Diamondbacks game

Field Level Media|published: Tue 30th April, 22:20 2024

Bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024. credits: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

A colony of bees behind home plate delayed the start of Tuesday's game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

Bees started to gather at the top of the screen behind home plate at Chase Field following batting practice but before the 6:40 p.m. local time start.

Umpires called for a delay with no indication whether the game would be played.

"Obviously, it's on the screen at the top of the netting, so if a foul ball hits the screen, what happens to the bees at that point and time? It's sort of an unknown right now," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on the SportsNet LA broadcast.

Fans on the field level, behind home plate and between both dugouts, were asked to evacuate their seats.

Umpire crew chief Adrian Johnson was in contact with Major League Baseball and also was discussing the situation with the Arizona Diamondbacks and manager Torey Lovullo.

"Obviously, safety is the most important thing, but as far as the game goes, we have both starters ready to go," Roberts said. "If you delay an hour, you burn both starters, so that's what we're trying to figure out."

The Dodgers were scheduled to send rookie right-hander Landon Knack to the mound, while the Diamondbacks were to counter with left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Both pitchers were set to make their third start of the season.

—Field Level Media