Bee-lieve: Walker’s home run in 10th lifts Diamondbacks over Dodgers 4-3 after delay for swarm of bees

PHOENIX — Christian Walker scored twice, including a two-run run in the 10th inning that gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a delayed 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.

A swarm of bees on top of the net behind the base caused a nearly two-hour delay as players and fans waited for a beekeeper to remove the colony. Players tried to keep busy in the indoor cage and clubhouse to kill time while waiting for the bees to be removed.

“It was weird, but kudos to the guys for turning it off and then turning it back on and being ready to play,” Walker said.

Activity in the game only started late.

Gabriel Moreno hit a game-tying run for Arizona in the eighth, but Los Angeles reliever Nabil Crismatt (1-1) worked a perfect ninth to send him into extra innings.

The Dodgers loaded the bases against Scott McGough (1-3) in the 10th, and Will Smith hit Gavin Lux with a sacrifice fly for a one-run lead.

Walker at first would go up trying to move the automatic runner from second to third, but Diamondbacks coach Torey Lovullo told him to call the game. Walker wasted no more time, launching Crismatt’s third pitch from the 10th into the left field seats to start a huge celebration at Chase Field.

“That was a little bit of leverage that I needed, otherwise maybe try to use the middle of the field, move a runner to third base right there,” Walker said. “I think a little freedom and forgiveness helped me.”

The Diamondbacks opted to switch gears after the long wait, sending left-hander Brandon Hughes instead of starter Jordan Montgomery, who had gone through his full warm-up before the delay was announced.

Los Angeles stuck with Landon Knack and he gave up a solo home run to Walker in the fourth — the only run the right-hander allowed on three hits in five innings.

The Dodgers loaded the bases against Justin Martinez in the fifth and tied the game on Joe Mantiply’s wild pitch. A Mantiply hurdle scored Smith from third to make it 2-1 in the sixth.

But the Diamondbacks rallied late, earning a much-needed victory on a bizarre night at the ballpark.

“One of my friends texted me a screenshot from Google showing bees and how they have been a sign of good luck since ancient times,” Hughes said after starting his career for the first time in his Arizona debut. . “And it actually went a little deeper, how they use teamwork and cooperation. I mean, that was a complete team victory right there.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (elbow) allowed one run and seven hits in five innings during a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Diamondbacks: LHP Kyle Nelson has been transferred to the 60-day injured list and will have surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Arizona picked up Hughes’ contract from Triple-A Reno to take Nelson’s place and optioned LHP Tommy Henry to the minors after Monday night’s game.

NEXT

Arizona RHP Zac Gallen (3-2, 3.38 ERA) is cleared to pitch in Wednesday’s series finale after leaving his last game with right hamstring soreness. He will face RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 3.54), making his sixth start since signing with the Dodgers out of Japan.

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