Brewers stay alive for Game 4 today

MILWAUKEE - J.J. Hardy and the Milwaukee Brewers did just enough to keep their postseason alive for another day.

Back home at Miller Park, the Brewers got 3 hits from Hardy and a sharp outing from Dave Bush to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 Saturday night and stave off elimination in the NL division series.

Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun each had a sacrifice fly for Milwaukee, making its first trip to the postseason since 1982. Hardy and Jason Kendall added RBI singles.

"Tonight was big for us," Hardy said. "I think we're going to be able to relax a little bit more and come out and play early tomorrow."

After CC Sabathia and Yovani Gallardo flopped in Philly, Bush allowed 1 run in 5 innings to help send the best-of-five series to a fourth game today.

Three relievers stymied the Phillies before Salomon Torres worked a rocky ninth inning for the save. Philadelphia loaded the bases with no outs, and Pedro Feliz hit a double-play grounder to third that appeared to drive in Ryan Howard.

But Shane Victorino, who hit a grand slam off Sabathia in Game 2, was called for interference when he didn't slide into second. The runners were sent back to second and third, and Carlos Ruiz tapped back to Torres for the final out.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel continued to discuss the play with umpires after the game.

"I've seen times, probably, when they didn't call that, but the umpire is standing right there on it," Manuel said.

Only seven teams in baseball history have come back from an 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five playoff series - but the '82 Brewers were one of them.

Interim manager Dale Sveum said the victory gave the Brewers confidence - and seemed pretty confident himself that the series was going the full five games.

"Hopefully, it pays off for the next two ballgames," Sveum said.

Jeff Suppan will start for Milwaukee today. The Phillies will send Joe Blanton to the mound.