MILWAUKEE — Christian Yelich’s two-run single broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday, and the Milwaukee Brewers tacked on four more to beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 8-2.

The Rays have lost both of their series to start the season and are 2-4. They are off Thursday before starting a three-game series at the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

Griffin Jax (0-2) took the loss for Tampa Bay, continuing his rough start to 2026. He didn’t record an out in the eighth inning and was charged with five runs (two earned), and his ERA is 18.00.

Drew Rasmussen started for the Rays, allowing two runs and two hits while striking out eight in five innings. Yandy Diaz hit a two-run home run for Tampa Bay.

Garrett Mitchell added a two-run double during the decisive rally, Blake Perkins drove in a run with a groundout, and David Hamilton capped the inning with an RBI single as Milwaukee (5-1) broke open a 2-2 game.

Brice Turang tied it earlier with a two-run homer in the third after the Rays took the lead on Díaz’s two-run shot in the top half of the inning.

Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski (1-0) struck out seven and allowed four hits and two runs in six innings. The right-hander walked two before handing the game to the bullpen. Grant Anderson, Aaron Ashby and DL Hall combined for three scoreless innings, with Hall striking out three in the ninth.

The Brewers’ eighth-inning surge opened after Joey Ortiz reached on a fielding error by shortstop Carson Williams. Turang’s sacrifice bunt was mishandled at first base, putting runners on first and second. William Contreras then singled to load the bases.

Yelich followed with a ground-ball single to right field that scored Ortiz and Turang for a 4-2 lead. Mitchell’s double to right brought home two more runs before Perkins’ RBI groundout, and Hamilton’s single extended the lead to 8-2. Milwaukee went 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor left the game in the second inning after a foul tip hit him in the face mask.

Tampa Bay’s Nick Fortes swung at a 100-mph fastball from Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski and hit a ball that went backward and struck Bucknor.

Bucknor, 63, immediately turned around and went down on his knees as Brewers catcher William Contreras checked on him. After the Brewers training staff came to the field and consulted with him, Bucknor left the field.

Chad Fairchild, who had been working as the first-base umpire, took over behind the plate after Bucknor’s departure as part of a transition to a three-man crew. The game was delayed for about 13 minutes.

Up next

Brewers: Chad Patrick (0-0, 2.08 ERA) will make his second start of the season against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

Rays: Joe Boyle (0-0, 3.00 ERA) takes the mound on Friday against the Minnesota Twins.