SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) – In what truly became a “B” game at spring training, a swarm of bees briefly delayed the Kansas City Royals’ 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
Edinson Volquez threw three hitless innings for the Royals, but the insects caused the biggest buzz. They sent Kansas City manager Ned Yost, members of his coaching staff and fans scurrying early in the exhibition matchup at Surprise Stadium. Yost and his coaches like to sit on folding chairs outside the dugout, and the bees caused them to duck for cover.
Yost said nobody got stung.
“They’re not going to mess with you, just don’t mess with them,” Yost said. “Kind of like the Royals, don’t mess with us and we won’t mess with you.”
The bees were removed in a plastic trash bag after the top of the third inning. Lowell Hutchinson, a retired beekeeper from St. Joseph, Missouri, came out of the stands to assist with gathering them. With the scarcity of honey bees, Yost implored the bees be saved, not exterminated.