Since being acquired from the Cleveland Indians in late June, there haven’t been many starting pitchers better than Brewers’ ace CC Sabathia in the National League. But after only lasting 3 2/3 innings Thursday in the Phillies’ 5-2 win in Game 2 of the NLDS, maybe Milwaukee asked too much out of Sabathia just to get into the playoffs.

Sabathia (2-3, 7.92 earned run average in five career post-season starts) fought his command from the outset and exited after 3 2/3 innings, by far his shortest outing with the Brewers. The big lefty allowed six hits and four walks, throwing only 55 of 98 pitches for strikes.

But nobody in the visiting clubhouse was about to pin the discouraging defeat on Sabathia, not after what he did to get the Brewers to October baseball. Beyond going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 outings, he pitched on short rest in his last three regular-season starts, including a four-hitter Sunday against Chicago that sealed the deal.

“The man left everything out there on the field,” said reliever Seth McClung, who tossed two scoreless innings. “I don’t think he ran out of gas. You can’t question anything he has done. He’s the man we needed out there today.”

Some will be quick to note that Sabathia once again continues to struggle in the postseason. But the guy was making his fourth consecutive start on only three days of rest. Without Sabathia’s phenomenal pitching in the second half of the regular season, the Brewers wouldn’t even be playing right now. Milwaukee’s players have it right – they need more offense or else Philadelphia is going to cruise into the NLCS. (And probably face the Dodgers with the way the Cubs are playing right now.)