The Miami Marlins were on the wrong side of an umpire's decision Monday that contributed to their 6-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
With the bases loaded and the Marlins trailing by three runs, Javier Sanoja laced a liner down the first base line that was called foul by umpire Shane Livensparger.
First base umpire called a clear fair ball foul, preventing the game-tying run to score for the Marlins pic.twitter.com/Wdajtxn8Si
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 18, 2026
Following a Marlins challenge, the ball was ruled fair and Sanoja's hit was changed to a two-run double as opposed to a potential bases-clearing double to tie the game if the correct call had been made initially. Manager Clayton McCullough came out of the dugout to argue the ruling and was promptly ejected.
"That's awful, that's terrible," the Marlins broadcast said following the umpire's ruling. "Shane Livensparger has cost the Marlins the tying run in this game ... that is dreadful. They should be held responsible for that. That's terrible. That's a joke."
The Marlins wound up leaving the tying run on third in an eventual loss.
McCullough discussed the play after the game, calling what happened frustrating.
"Once they (called) out there, I can't go argue a play that went to New York," McCullough said, according to Erich Richter of the New York Post.
"My only point was that I get it, but with two outs, with the size of the lead Otto's going to have there not being held on and going on contact, where that ball was going to end up, I think that he was going to score anyway. Just a little bit more frustration that you see the call's going to get overturned and think what could have been."
Sanoja also voiced his frustrations following the loss, which dropped the Marlins three games back of the last NL wild-card spot.
"It was frustrating to see a situation like that," Sanoja said. "As division rivals, we understand the value of this game and just seeing the game (affected) by a situation like that is truly disappointing."
