Miami Marlins' Clayton McCullough, Xavier Edwards Ejected For Arguing Controversial Call

Clayton McCullough got tossed for the first time in his tenure as the Miami Marlins' manager after Xavier Edwards got called for interference in Friday's showdown with the Tampa Bay Rays.

St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough (86) reacts after infielder Xavier Edwards (not pictured) gets called out on interference with Tampa Bay Rays first base Jonathan Aranda (not pictured) during the third inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

For a moment, it looked like the Miami Marlins had small-balled their way into a tie game.

Instead, they wound up down a run, a key player and their manager.

Dane Myers led off the top of the third with a double to center, immediately threatening the Tampa Bay Rays' early 1-0 advantage. It was up to Xavier Edwards to move Myers over, and the second baseman rose to the occasion by dropping down a successful bunt.

But Edwards had his sights set on an infield single, and maybe even more. When Zack Littell bounced his throw past first, Edwards ran into the first baseman Jonathan Aranda's glove and Myers came around to score.

Umpire Chad Fairchild called Edwards out for interfering with Aranda, though, despite Aranda reaching into Edwards' seemingly established path on a play where the runner would have been safe. Regardless, Fairchild wiped the run off the board and sent Myers back to second.

Manager Clayton McCullough, not a fan of the call on the field, came out of the dugout to give Fairchild an earful. McCullough was unable to challenge the play, and Fairchild ultimately tossed him from the contest.

It marked the first ejection of McCullough's managerial career.

Edwards, a .307 career hitter entering Friday's action, also got sent packing for arguing.

Bizarre situation in Tampa.

Instead of a tie game, thanks to a perfect Xavier Edwards bunt, Edwards is called out on interference at first base.

Moments later, Clayton McCullough was ejected for the first time as Marlins manager for arguing the call.

Extremely questionable. pic.twitter.com/Bcu4WkDoZM

— Nate Karzmer (@NateKarzmer) June 6, 2025

The Marlins didn't actually plate a run until the top of the fourth, at which point they were already down 3-0. Tampa Bay went up 4-1 through seven innings, but Miami made it a 4-3 ballgame in the eighth.

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