Twice in the last four games, the Milwaukee Brewers exploded in the eighth inning to score six runs. In the final game of the Chicago White Sox Opening Week series, the Brewers’ six-pack gave them a 9-7 comeback win. Today’s game was slightly less dramatic, but their sixer broke a 2-2 tie in an 8-2 triumph over the pesky Tampa Bay Rays.

Let’s take a look at the ‘Eighth Inning Heroes.’

The White Sox held a 7-3 lead going into the penultimate inning of the final game of the three-game series. Southpaw Chris Murphy came on for the Sox and gave up a single to Joey Ortiz and then wild-pitched him to second. Jake Bauers struck out, and then Brandon Lockridge got aboard via an infield base hit. Blake Perkins walked to load the bases before Brice Turang singled to left, scoring Ortiz to make it 7-4. Murphy went to the showers as Seranthony Domínguez came on. William Contreras popped to third, and the Sox appeared to have an exit ramp in sight.

Not so fast. Luis Rengifo made his first hit as a Brewer count, knocking in Lockridge and Perkins to cut the lead to 7-6. Christian Yelich pinch-hit for Gary Sánchez and blasted a three-run bomb that traveled 421 feet and gave the Brewers a 9-7 lead. Sal Frelick walked, and Ortiz struck out to end the inning. Trevor Megill allowed a scratch single but retired the side after that.

In Wednesday’s rubber match with Tampa Bay, both teams scored a pair of runs in the third inning on two-run homers by Yandy Díaz and Turang, respectively. Other than that, Drew Rasmussen and Jacob Misiorowski held the opposing teams in check, although a foul ball off the bat of Nick Fortes took out beleaguered home plate ump C.B. Bucknor on a ‘mask shot.’

Former long-time Twinkies pitcher Griffin Jax took over to start the bottom of the eighth, and once again, Ortiz began the frame with a single. Turang bunted to third, and the throw to first was dropped by first baseman Junior Caminero, who had moved over from third after a pair of throwing miscues at the hot corner. Will Bild singled to jam the sacks before Yeli singled to drive in two runners to make it 4-2. Bauers walked, and once again the bags were full, bringing on new Rays pitcher Mason Englert. Garrett Mitchell promptly doubled to score Contreras and Yelich to give the Crew a 6-2 lead. Frelick fouled out, and then Perkins got an RBI groundout on a 3U by Caminero. David Hamilton singled to knock in Mitchell, and once again, Joey O. was the spoilsport, grounding out to end the inning. DL Hall sandwiched three strikeouts amongst a hit-by-pitch and a single to win the series, two games to one.

Yelich (2-for-2) and Ortiz (2-for-4) have been effective. Ironically, Ortiz led off each of the innings with hits and then finished them with outs.

The Brewers have been very successful this year, putting up crooked numbers in 13 of the 49 innings they have batted in this year. Milwaukee and Houston have each scored 45 runs this season, leading MLB.

My question, maybe too early, but can this be a magical season for the Brewers? Time will tell, but let’s make sure to enjoy it.