Marlins apologise for Steve Irwin tweet after loss to Rays

Miami - The Miami Marlins apologised on Monday for a taunting tweet referencing the death of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin after a Major League Baseball loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays wrapped up a two-game sweep of the Marlins with a 7-2 victory on Sunday.

In a testy Twitter exchange between the clubs' accounts, the Marlins account finally tweeted: "yOU'RE LITERALLY THE ANIMAL THAT KILLED STEVE IRWIN LOG OFF."

Australia's Irwin, an iconic television celebrity and conservationist, died on September 4, 2006 after he was stabbed in the heart by a giant stingray while filming on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.

"This was a regrettable exchange by our otherwise creative social media team," the Marlins said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, in this medium, sometimes we swing and miss, and this was definitely a miss."

In a separate tweet, the Marlins apologised once again, saying "Hi, guys. Like everyone who grew up watching him, we miss Steve. We're so sorry to have made light of his passing."