Bees nearly delay Dodgers-Pirates game

May 26, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate the 4-3 victory against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate the 4-3 victory against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles was abuzz with the anticipation of the Zack Greinke versus Edinson Volquez match up on Sunday night. Then again, that could have been the swarm that had amassed near left field approximately an hour before both the Pirates and the Dodgers took the field at Dodger Stadium.

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The huge cloud of bees was picked up on by MLB Network cameras as the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball telecast ticked down towards first pitch. The game was going to be a big one as the Pirates looked to win a series in Los Angeles for the first time in six years. Zack Greinke was going to be a tough match-up and Andrew McCutchen was going to be in the spotlight, a place he loves to be.

The first problem was how to get rid of the bees, though.

Another swarm was picked up ESPN cameras hanging out near the Dodgers dugout and actually surrounding one of the field mics. The bees were taken care of via the usual methods, spray guns with insecticide and water being wielded by a couple of brave souls, but this isn’t the first time bees have played havoc with a Major League Baseball game.

In Spring Training, a Yankees-Red Sox game was delayed because of a swarm of bees alerted to by Mike Carp. Angels, Diamondbacks, Rockies, and even Florida Marlins games have all felt the wrath of a cloud of stingers.

I don’t blame players for wanting to play under those conditions one bit.