Bees delay Angels-Mariners game in Anaheim

ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A bee expert at Angels Stadium in California for the Anaheim team's game against the Seattle Mariners helped groundskeepers capture bees that delayed the game.

Mariners Manager Eric Wedge said the bees emerged near the pitcher's mound during the bottom of the third inning, causing the game to be delayed for 23 minutes while groundskeepers and John Poto, an apiarist at local beehive removal company Honey Pacifico who had been attending the game, removed the insects, MLB.com reported Monday.

"I've never seen bees like that," Wedge said. "I've seen quite a few instances in my days as a manager with different types of bugs, but never like that with a swarm of bees. I couldn't see them for a long time. Then finally I got my eyes fixed on them, and then I couldn't get rid of them. I didn't know what was going on out there for a while, but I'm glad nobody got stung."

Poto used a Gatorade cooler containing objects including honey and a broom to gather up the insects.

The game resumed and the Mariners beat the Angels 3-2.