BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Batting Practice Causes Something to Buzz About

The Pirates and Colorado Rockies called off batting practice before Wednesday night’s game in Pittsburgh so exterminators could remove a thick swarm of bees from behind second base.

As the Pirates began their usual pregame stretch about 2 1/2 hours before game time, hundreds of bees gathered near their dugout, forcing players to swat them away with gloves and bats.

Later, as batting practice was to begin, the bees shifted to a protective screen behind second base, causing both teams to retreat to their dugouts.

The swarm was so thick that a large black patch about two feet wide formed behind second base.

Three Rivers Stadium ground crew members unsuccessfully tried to scatter the bees with aerosol insect sprays. Two exterminators in protective suits were called in, and they removed the swarm with vacuum hoses.

“We haven’t had so much excitement over bees since Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla left,� publicist Jim Trdinich said of the former Pirates, nicknamed the Killer B’s.

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Baltimore reliever Alan Mills underwent surgery on his right shoulder, the Orioles said. James Andrews, who performed the surgery on Mills, will examine left-hander Arthur Rhodes on Friday. Rhodes, 2-5 with a 6.21 ERA in 19 appearances, was put on the 15-day disabled because of a sore shoulder. . . . The Boston Red Sox put outfielder Lee Tinsley on the 15-day disabled list and recalled outfielder Matt Stairs from triple-A Pawtucket. Tinsley will be eligible to come off the disabled list--and be put on the playoff roster--on Sept. 7.