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A professional beekeeper named Matt Hilton was called upon Tuesday to end a bizarre delay holding up the start of an MLB matchup between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers.
A colony of bees gathered on the netting lining the backstop at Chase Field, preventing the contest from getting underway. Hilton quickly jumped into action, safely securing the swarm and allowing the outing to ensue.
The Dodgers-Dbacks game is in a delay due to a swarm of bees pic.twitter.com/SxansNG1op
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 1, 2024
It was an unusual holdup, but not one that Hilton was unfamiliar with.
He casually hopped atop a mechanical lift, sprayed down the colony, and collected the group into a small vacuum to effectively end the threat (with the tune of “I Need a Hero” aptly playing in the background).
“I need a hero” played while the beekeeper ended the game delay in Arizona 💀 pic.twitter.com/Y5lwyeWVrY
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 1, 2024
After successfully gathering the bees and escorting them away from danger, Hilton was rewarded. The beekeeper got to throw out the first pitch!
It was a more than deserving prize considering he had to be pulled away from a prior (and important) engagement in order to save the day.
“I was actually at my son’s tee ball game [when I got the call],” Hilton said after the heroics. “It was the last game of the season…”
Is Beekeeper Matt Hilton the first guy to get a save BEFORE the game starts? pic.twitter.com/uCRJadnsBT
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2024
The excitement of that pregame carried into the contest, with the home team pulling out a win in dramatic fashion. Trailing 3-2 in the 10th inning, Arizona’s Christian Walker stepped up to the dish with a man on base.
The first baseman smacked a two-run homer to give the Diamondbacks the lead in their final at-bat, downing the rival Dodgers, 4-3.
An electric scene from start to finish.