How pest control expert stole the show before Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

“I got a call five minutes before game time from our senior manager of events [Kat McDonald]. She doesn’t usually call me around that time, I knew something was odd,” D-backs vice president of ballpark operations Mike Rock said. “She said ‘We have bees landing on the net right behind home plate.’ I asked how many and she said ‘Hundreds, no wait, thousands.’ I knew we had a problem then.”

As soon as the huge congregation of bees was broadcasted for the world on TV to see, the size grew exponentially and the concern level of the fan’s safety increased significantly. Especially for those who live with anaphylaxis, one sting from a bee could trigger a dangerous allergic reaction and can even be life-threatening.

If a foul ball were to have hit the netting, the bees would have dispersed into the audience, something Rock, the umpires and the Diamondbacks did not want to happen at all costs.

“In that position, the net would have been hit hard enough and it would have stirred the whole thing and they could have dropped down into the people below,” Rock said.

Fans in the surrounding seats of the swarm evacuated up to the concourse as help was on the way. During the drama, there were also talks that the game could have been postponed for another day.

“It was certainly discussed, we were in discussions with the league [MLB] office,” Rock said. “There were also internal discussions with [Diamondbacks president and chief executive officer] Derrick Hall and our executive staff on whether the game should start tonight based on how long it was going to take to restart.”

Rock would call Blue Sky Pest Control, a company that the Diamondbacks have helped with previous jobs in the past, for much-needed support.

Just as his son’s T-ball game was just getting underway in Surprise, Blue Sky branch manager Matt Hilton received the call to come to the rescue for the D-backs even though he was 45 minutes away.

Arriving in Phoenix and rolling on a golf cart to the field, Hilton emerged onto the field and tackled the problem. With Hilton’s expertise in vacuuming up the bees and spraying a non-pesticidal solution on the stragglers left behind, the wait was worth it as the game would eventually be back on.

“It was a little nerve-wracking, I am not going to lie,” Hilton said. “There was a lot of pressure to get this game going, so I was happy to come and take care of it.”

As a thankful gesture, the Diamondbacks would let Hilton throw out the ceremonial first pitch once the issue was resolved. The game did not begin until 8:35 p.m. PT, almost two hours later than the scheduled start time of 6:40.

Arizona would go on to win 4-3 in the 10th inning thanks to a two-run, walk-off homer from Christian Walker, capping off a wild and chaotic night for everyone at Chase Field.

Both the Diamondbacks and Dodgers face each other once again tonight at 6:40 p.m. PT.

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