Bees Interrupt Padres Game

((HT: CBS8/KFMB-TV))

Talk about adding a late-inning buzz to a ballgame.

The Houston Astros - who once had the "Killer Bs" - beat the San Diego Padres 7-2 on Thursday, but only after waiting out a 52-minute delay in the top of the ninth inning caused when a swarm of bees took over part of left field at Petco Park.

Geoff Blum hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs. The Astros won three of four against the Padres.

A beekeeper was called to the downtown ballpark and sprayed a chair and a ballgirl's jacket that had attracted the bees. Padres president Tom Garfinkel said a few thousand bees attached themselves to a queen bee.

"The umpires made the right call to stop the game," Garfinkel said. "There's a couple thousand bees there. If they decide to swarm on a person, whether that's a player, an employer or obviously a fan, we could have a real situation."

After Joe Thatcher's first pitch to Miguel Tejada with two outs in the ninth, San Diego's Kyle Blanks began walking in from left field. Second base umpire Mike Reilly walked toward left to see what was going on.

The game was halted at 3:09 p.m. Five minutes later, both teams were cleared from the field.

The beekeeper arrived at 3:56 p.m., quickly did his job to applause from the fans who remained, and the game resumed 5 minutes later.

The swarm first appeared along the warning track. Later, fans were cleared out of several sections down the left-field line.

Houston led 6-1 at the time.

Garfinkel said head groundskeeper Luke Yoder has the beekeeper on his speed dial.

Here's how it looked, thanks to CBS8 and Craig McKee...