Bee-lieve: Walker's homer in 10th lifts Diamondbacks over Dodgers 4-3 after delay for bee swarm

PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Walker homered twice, including a two-run drive in the 10th inning that gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a bee-delayed 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.

A bee swarm atop the netting behind home plate caused a delay of nearly two hours as players and fans waited for a beekeeper to remove the colony. Players tried to keep busy in the indoor batting cage and clubhouse to kill time while they waited for the bees to be removed.

“It was weird, but props to the guys for shutting it down and then getting it back on and being ready to play," Walker said.

The activity in the game didn't pick up until late.

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

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

Walker at first was going to go up looking to try to move the automatic runner from second to third, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told him to end the game instead. Walker wasted no more time buzzing around, launching Crismatt's third pitch of the 10th into the left-field seats to set off a wild celebration at Chase Field.

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

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

Los Angeles stuck with Landon Knack and he gave up a solo homer 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 balk by Mantiply scored Smith from third to make it 2-1 in the sixth.

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

“One of my buddies texted me a Google screenshot of honeybees and how they’re a sign of good luck from ancient times,” Hughes said after making his first career start in his Arizona debut. “And it was actually like a little bit deeper, how they use teamwork and cooperation. I mean, that was a a full team win right there.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

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

Diamondbacks: LHP Kyle Nelson was transferred to the 60-day injured list and will have surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Arizona selected Hughes' contract from Triple-A Reno to take Nelson's spot and optioned LHP Tommy Henry to the minors after Monday night's game.

UP NEXT

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

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks Christian Walker runs after hitting his two run walk-off home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 10th inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Bee keeper Matt Hilton throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Phoenix. Hilton removed a swarm of bees on the net behind home plate that delayed the start of the game. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani follows through on a base hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of an MLB baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

A swarm of bees gather on the net behind home plate delaying the start of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

A bee keeper removes a swarm of bees gathered on the net behind home plate delaying the start of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker (53) celebrates his two run walk-off home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 10th inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker (53) celebrates his two run walk-off home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 10th inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

NEW YORK (AP) — Israel's shutdown and seizure of an Associated Press video camera that provided a live glimpse into Gaza alarmed many journalists, who worried Tuesday about wider implications for coverage of a war largely fought out of the world's sight to begin with.

After widespread condemnation, including a call by the Biden administration on Israel to back off, authorities returned AP's equipment late Tuesday. Israel had justified its move by saying the agency violated a new media law that bans Al Jazeera, since the Qatari satellite channel is one of thousands of customers that receive live AP video.

By early Wednesday, the AP’s live video of Gaza was back up in Israel.

The camera confiscated earlier, located in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, was not the only one AP operated in Israel or Gaza — the company would not say how many it uses regularly — nor is AP the only news organization to do so. Agence France-Presse confirmed it has frequently used such cameras in Israel and also sells its images to Al Jazeera.

“Israel's move to restrict AP's work today is extremely concerning and a clear attack on press freedom,” said Phil Chetwynd, AFP's global news director.

News organizations expressed worry about the potential ambiguity in how Israel's law could be enforced. What, they asked, prevents Israel from shutting down the news cooperative's operations in the country altogether?

“It also could allow Israel to block media coverage of virtually any news event on vague security grounds,” Israel's Foreign Press Association said in a statement.

Israel also denies foreign journalists entry into Gaza to cover a war that began following Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks inside the Jewish state, and has been criticized for not doing enough to protect Palestinian journalists and civilians.

The country “seems to be grasping at anything that hurts Al Jazeera,” said Thomas Kent, former president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and an international consultant on media ethics. Its latest step damages a reputable news organization at a time the country would seem to want independent news coverage, Kent said.

A democracy acting in this way also sends a disturbing signal to authoritarian countries, he said. “You have to look at the larger picture,” said Kent, also a former standards editor and international correspondent at AP. “They're giving fuel to other countries that would love to seize equipment and shut down transmissions.”

The move against AP set off a debate within Israel. Yair Lapid, opposition leader to the Netanyahu government, called it an “act of madness.” Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who accused the AP of violating the country’s law, said it clearly states that any device used to deliver content to Al Jazeera could be seized.

“We will continue to act decisively against anyone who tries to harm our soldiers and the security of the state, even if you don’t like it,” Karhi responded to Lapid on X.

AP's camera in Sderot was operated 24 hours a day and was also attended by staff members. A staffer can be used to move or focus the camera to cover news that may be happening, and also to avoid capturing military moves. The AP says it complies with military censorship rules that prohibits the broadcast of troop movements that could endanger soldiers.

News organizations frequently place cameras that can operate remotely at various places around the globe, either in an area where news is happening or simply to provide a view of a city skyline.

These shots have many uses — providing a backdrop for a television station reporting on developments, or as a livestream feature on a website. They can capture live news, as an AP camera stationed outside of the courtroom where former President Donald Trump stands trial did when a man set himself on fire last month. Earlier in the Gaza war, footage from such cameras helped news organizations conduct forensic investigations into who was responsible for a military strike on a Palestinian hospital.

AP is the biggest supplier of live video news coverage to newsrooms across the world, said AP Vice President Paul Haven, the agency's head of news gathering.

“Our live video provides a window of what's happening around the world on any given day, allowing audiences to see events for themselves as they unfold,” Haven said.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said it was “deeply disturbed” by Israel's actions on Tuesday. Carlos Martinez de la Serna, CPJ program director, said the country should allow all international media outlets, including Al Jazeera, to operate freely in the country.

While Israel's return of the equipment is a positive development, the underlying issue has not disappeared.

“We remain concerned about the Israeli government's use of the foreign broadcaster law and the ability of independent journalists to operate freely in Israel,” said AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton.

David Bauder writes about media for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://twitter.com/dbauder.

AP video equipment is laid on the floor of an apartment block in Sderot, Southern Israel, shortly before it was seized by Israeli officials, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Israeli officials seized the camera and broadcasting equipment belonging to The Associated Press in southern Israel on Tuesday, accusing the news organization of violating the country's new ban on Al Jazeera. Shortly before the equipment was seized, it was broadcasting a general view of northern Gaza. (AP Photo/Josphat Kasire)

Israel's block of AP transmission shows how ambiguity in law could restrict war coverage

A screenshot taken from AP video showing a general view of northern Gaza as seen from Southern Israel, before it was seized by Israeli officials on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Israeli officials seized a camera and broadcasting equipment belonging to The Associated Press in southern Israel on Tuesday, accusing the news organization of violating the country’s new ban on Al Jazeera. Shortly before the equipment was seized, it was broadcasting a general view of northern Gaza. (AP Photo)

Israel's block of AP transmission shows how ambiguity in law could restrict war coverage