New Meaning to ‘B’ Game

A swarm of bees invaded the field Thursday and forced a game between the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks to be called after five innings.

The bees literally chased Colorado pitcher Darren Oliver from the mound. He kept trying to return, but each time the bees went after him again. Finally, he left for good and let another pitcher complete the inning.

“I love this game,” Oliver said, “but I like myself a little bit more.”

Oliver said the bees apparently were attracted to the coconut oil in his hair gel.

“It was kind of funny at first, but after a while I started getting a little nervous and scared out there,” he said.

The Diamondbacks took the field in the sixth, but by then the bees had spread out all over the field, and play was not resumed. Arizona beat the Rockies, 3-1, in five innings.

Joe Garagiola, attending the game with his son, Diamondback General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr., said he had never seen anything like it.

“And I go back to 1942,” the elder Garagiola said.