PHOENIX — Chase Field was buzzing Tuesday night but it wasn't the fans, it was actual bees.
The game between the Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers was delayed almost two hours after a bee colony formed near home plate earlier in the evening.
A professional beekeeper was called in to remove the bees.
Matt Hilton, branch manager of Blue Sky Pest Control's Phoenix office, arrived about 70 minutes after the scheduled first pitch and pumped up the already-cheering crowd as he rode in on a cart from right field. Hilton suited up then rose up toward the swarm, causing more cheers.
With another quick wave to pump up the crowd, he stunned the bees with spray and started sucking them up with a shop vac as Bonnie Tyler's “Holding Out for a Hero” blared through the loud speakers.
Hilton hit the last few stranglers with more spray before lowering back onto the field, pumping his fist as the crowd cheered again.
The delay lasted nearly 90 minutes and the players were given 30 minutes to loosen back up before the first pitch was thrown. The Diamondbacks switched starting pitchers after the delay, from Jordan Montgomery to Brandon Hughes.
Hilton got an added bonus while making a stadium call: The Diamondbacks had him throw out the first pitch.
The Diamondbacks posted a video of the bee removal to their X account.
A statement from the Diamondbacks organization said the bees were gathering on the protective netting near home plate.
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Fans were removed from sections near the bees.
Fans took to social media to post about the delay.
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