MLB Notes: Marlins-Braves game on July 3 moved to Fort Bragg, NC

The Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins will play on the U.S. military base at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on July 3 in a 12,500- capacity ballpark to be built with funding by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The ballpark will be converted to a softball field and multi-purpose facility after the game.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Atlanta’s Turner Field, and the Braves will remain the home team. The game will be televised by ESPN as part of its Sunday night baseball schedule.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Tuesday that it will be “a unique event that will benefit the men and women of Fort Bragg and their families for many years.”

Marlins manager Don Mattingly said the game is a chance to honor the soldiers on the base.

“It feels good to be able to go,” Mattingly said. “There are a lot of heroes there. Some of those guys have paid a heavy price.”

Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski attended a 2012 college basketball game aboard the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship anchored at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Fla.

He expects an even greater thrill playing at Fort Bragg.

“It’s going to be pretty awesome,” Pierzynski said. “To play in front of the troops, that’s kind of what you do this for. Because those guys are the real heroes. What they do protecting us and defending out way of life every day is pretty amazing.”

Col. Brett Funck, the garrison commander at Fort Bragg, thanked baseball and the union “for their support to our service members and families.”

“This historic event and the converted multipurpose facility will have enduring benefits for our entire Fort Bragg community for years to come,” he said.

Bees cause game delay

In what truly became a “B” game at spring training, a swarm of bees briefly delayed the Kansas City Royals’ 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies.

Edinson Volquez threw three hitless innings for the Royals, but the insects caused the biggest buzz. They sent Kansas City manager Ned Yost, members of his coaching staff and fans scurrying early in the exhibition matchup at Surprise Stadium.

“They’re not going to mess with you, just don’t mess with them,” Yost said. “Kind of like the Royals, don’t mess with us and we won’t mess with you.”

The bees were removed in a plastic trash bag after the top of the third inning.

“I said, `We ain’t killing those bees. We better figure something out,“’ Yost said. “Luckily we had a beekeeper from St. Joe here. They had already devised that plan, just put them in a plastic bag, take them out and let them go. We ain’t killing them. There aren’t enough bees in the world, boys. We can’t be exterminating them.”

“They’re so important to our environment. They pollenate everything. It doesn’t make any sense to panic and kill bees when you don’t have to. I am proud the way we handled it,” he said.

Volquez saw Yost rush for the dugout while he was on the mound.

“I’m just glad to be alive,” Volquez said and laughed.

Bubba Starling hit a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the Royals sixth off Jason Motte. Paulo Orlando also homered for Kansas City.

“The bees were crazy,” Starling said. “They were all over the place. All the coaches came in until they got that taken care of. There was some actually down in the dugout. The majority of them were out in the on-deck circle.”

Rockies starter Jordan Lyles delayed warming up in the third inning when the bees were removed to a loud applause.

“That third inning the umpires told me to hold off, that they were going to take the bees out,” Lyles said. “It didn’t affect us on the field, but I’m sure the fans weren’t too happy.”

Cristhian Adames homered for Colorado.

Around the bases

NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta said he talked with the Chicago Cubs about a long- term contract. Arrieta agreed last month to a $10.7 million, one-year deal. … Pedro Alvarez and the Orioles agreed to a $5.75 million, one-year contract. … The St. Louis Cardinals postponed the second opinion on Jhonny Peralta’s injured left thumb. Peralta said if the second opinion concurred with the initial diagnosis, he’d have surgery. … Phillies’ Aaron Altherr will have surgery on his injured left wrist and will be sidelined for four to six months.