Marlins fall to Reds after 'absolute joke' of overturned replay call

MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins were heated after Thursday night's game when a call from Major League Baseball's new instant replay system and the rule preventing catchers from blocking the plate did not go their way.

The Cincinnati Reds thought MLB got it just right.

A long delay in the eighth inning resulted in what the Marlins thought was the third out turning into the tying run.

Zack Cozart was initially ruled out by home plate umpire Mike Winters on the play at the plate. The review extended the inning and Ryan Ludwick delivered a two-run single to help give the Reds a 3-1 victory.

"The fact of that matter is that everyone around baseball should be embarrassed by a call like that," Marlins president David Samson said during an expletive-laced postgame tirade.

With the Marlins leading 1-0 in the top of the eighth, the Reds loaded the bases with one out. Bryan Morris got Todd Frazier to fly out to right fielder Giancarlo Stanton whose throw to the plate easily beat Cozart for what appeared to be the final out of the inning when catcher Jeff Mathis tagged out Cozart, who trotted in without a slide.

However, after a 6-minute, 10-second instant replay review, the call was overturned because Mathis was ruled to be blocking the plate and Cozart was called safe, tying the game 1-1.

Marlins manager Mike Redmond was immediately ejected after throwing his hat to the ground and arguing with the umpires. Redmond kicked his hat on his way back to the dugout for good measure.

"As a former catcher in this league for 13 seasons, as a grinder, as a guy who loves this game and respects this game so much, this game has been a part of my life forever, but to lose a ballgame tonight on that play is a joke, it's an absolute joke," Redmond said. "I don't think anybody who plays this game should feel good about winning that game and I would say that if it had been reversed. That guy was out by 15 feet."

Cozart saw it differently.

"I thought it was pretty obvious from the replay that they made the right call," he said.

Reds manager Bryan Price agreed.

"Cozart was out by a fairly reasonable margin, but the catcher, from the inception of that ball going off the bat, had taken away the entire plate with his feet," Price said. "His body was in the middle of the plate."

During the delay, Mathis, a 10-year veteran, was confident that he did everything right in accordance of the rules.

"I'm just disgusted," Mathis said. "That's a tough way to lose a game. ... For it to be decided like that, it's just disgusting."

MLB issued a statement about the play after the game:

"We have begun to examine the Crew Chief Review in tonight's Reds-Marlins game, which resulted in a violation of Rule 7.13, the call being overturned and a run scoring on the play," the statement said. "We plan to discuss this situation further with the appropriate parties tomorrow, and we will communicate with the clubs after our discussion about this play."

Reds starter Johnny Cueto (12-6) struck out nine and allowed one run in seven innings and Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his 24th save.

Stanton hit his 25th home run and Tom Koehler (7-8) took the loss allowing two unearned runs in seven innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Chapman had to be tended to by trainers with two outs in the ninth when he had some discomfort in his right leg. He remained in the game and threw a 101 mph pitch to strike out Marcell Ozuna to end the game.

"I had a little discomfort in the leg," Chapman said. "It was an awkward step I took when I made the pitch."

Reds reliever Manny Parra (stiff back) has not pitched since July 20. "He is improving," Price said. "He played catch today. It's as day-to-day as it comes. It always seems like it's a day away from him actually being a piece of what we're doing."

ON DECK

The Reds' Mat Latos (2-3, 3.31) will start Friday's game against the Marlins' Jacob Turner (4-6, 5.69). Latos is 0-3 with a 5.26 ERA in seven starts against the Marlins. Turner will be making his first start at Marlins Park since May 31 against Atlanta.

TO TRADE OR NOT TO TRADE

The Marlins completed a six-player trade with the Houston Astros to acquire 24-year-old right-handed starter Jarred Cosart, who will be in Miami on Friday. There has not been a decision when Cosart will join the rotation.

The Reds did not make any deals at the non-waiver deadline.

"We were involved in a lot of different negotiations, but in the end we were looking mainly for offense and there really wasn't the offensive pieces out there," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "In fact, none of the guys that we had talked about were moved. I think the asking prices were beyond what we felt comfortable with."