Ludicrous call results in two first-time ejections; Marlins fall by one run once again

TAMPA—"We're trying to win games, trying to play good baseball, and it sucks when you're stripped of that," said a dejected Xavier Edwards postgame.

For Edwards, the usually calm and collected Marlins leadoff man, Friday's series opener against his former organization in Tampa marked a first in his big league career—and for good reason.

Succeeding a Dane Myers hustle double in the top of the third, the 25-year-old wasted no time laying down a textbook bunt down the third base line. The speedster was just mere feet away from first when Rays starter Zack Littell threw errantly, giving Myers a free pass to tie the game at one.

There was just one problem. First base umpire Ben May deemed that Edwards interfered with first baseman Jonathan Aranda, meaning Edwards was out and Myers would have to return to second base. Instant confusion set in, considering Edwards did not step outside of the baseline in the slightest. Edwards even made sure to show May the final mark his cleat made on the chalk, but May did not budge. The play was not reviewable.

The subsequent reaction from the Marlins and their second baseman went exactly as one would imagine.

Manager Clayton McCullough stormed out of the dugout twice, begging for answers. On his latter trip, home plate umpire Chad Fairchild ejected the Marlins skipper for the first time.

"(Fairchild) had him out of the baseline there getting down the line and I didn't see that way," said McCullough. "X was upset about it as well and things led to what ended up happening".

As McCullough alluded to, Edwards wasn't too far behind, as one too many comments was enough for Fairchild to send Edwards home early for the first time as well.

"I said some things that ultimately got me thrown out of the game, but I think it's a big turning point in the game," claimed Edwards. "Being able to put up a run with the top of our lineup coming up, no outs and be on first base with our 2-3-4 coming up, it's a big deal. Tie game at 1-1, and instead it swings the whole inning".

Of course, with baseball being baseball, the controversial call turned out to be critical. Edward Cabrera and the bullpen held Tampa Bay's offense in check, while Agustín Ramírez's eighth homer and Otto Lopez's 424-foot blast helped Miami keep pace. It wasn't enough. For the third time in as many games, the Marlins came up short by just one run, falling 4-3.

Miami's starter was only able to complete four innings due to drawn out at-bats from the Rays order and shaky offense from new first baseman Liam Hicks, but only permitted one earned run to cross.

Cabrera once again showed his maturity in high-leverage scenarios, wiggling out of jams in key moments. That included retiring Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero—two of Tampa Bay's best bats—with the bases loaded in his final inning. McCullough asserted postgame that's where he's seen his young arm grow the most throughout the season.

The 27-year-old flashed his usual fastball-changeup combination 62% of the time, but recorded strikeouts on two other pitches as well. Cabrera's season ERA now sits at 3.99, nearly a full run better than last year's 4.95 mark.

Of Note

- McCullough informed media pregame that Kyle Stowers, who leads the team with 10 homers, is day-to-day with lingering hand soreness. Stowers was available to pinch-hit on Friday, but was not given the opportunity.

- For the fourth time in his career, Jesús Sánchez wore the golden sombrero. Also taking on his ex-organization like Edwards, Sanchez went down swinging in all four at-bats.

- Ex-Yankee farmhands Ramírez and Eric Wagaman both recorded three hits in their return to Steinbrenner Field.

- Friday's 1:10 start is the earliest game on the slate by a stunning five and a half hours. First pitch was moved up due to a Metallica concert at Raymond James Stadium next door.

Looking Ahead

Saturday’s penultimate game of the 2025 Citrus Series features another set of starting pitchers enjoying recent success in Ryan Weathers and Taj Bradley. Since returning from the IL in mid-May, the former boasts an ERA of 2.49, even after a rough start by his standards a Sunday ago (4 ER in 6.0 IP). Bradley is fresh off a masterful seven-inning shutout performance against Houston. First pitch from Tampa is set for 4:10.