MILWAUKEE — This wasn't exactly the way the Milwaukee Brewers envisioned the end of one of the most exciting days in franchise history.

Almost, but not exactly.

What started as a ho-hum effort against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night at Miller Park left many in the crowd of 35,161 reaching for a towel after watching the Brewers stage an eighth-inning comeback that fell just short.

But even when Russell Branyan's fly to medium center with the tying run on board died to end the eighth, this was a crowd as charged at the end as it was at the beginning, when the news the Brewers had acquired premier left-hander CC Sabathia was just starting to settle.

"If you live in Milwaukee," manager Ned Yost said of the enthusiastic throng, "you're a Brewer fan."

But let's be realistic for a moment. After the 4-3 defeat, did anyone really think the Brewers were going to win 74 straight games just because they officially closed the deal earlier in the day for Sabathia?

Probably not. But those who were disappointed will just have to settle for the chance at a 73-1 record, a streak that is scheduled to begin tonight when Sabathia takes the mound in a Brewers uniform for the first time.

There was no remorse after the loss, at least in the home clubhouse.

"Does CC have to go back tomorrow?" Yost asked, knowing the answer.

The Brewers didn't play especially well through seven innings, though it wasn't necessarily for lack of effort. Most of it was because of Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who blanked the Brewers' hot bats on three hits in seven innings.

But the Brewers also aren't going to win if pitchers don't throw strikes. Or if two of their best baserunners — Ryan Braun and Corey Hart — are picked off in successive innings. Nor will it happen when a shaky fielding play leads to a run.

Starter Seth McClung (5-4) retired nine of the first 10 hitters he faced before running into a rash of wildness that cost him two runs and ended his night. He walked two in the fourth inning that helped the Rockies to one run and three more in the fifth that led to another before departing with two outs in the frame.

"I went out there with the best stuff I've had all year," said McClung, the reliever turned starter. "And (home plate umpire Tim McClelland) didn't always see it the way I did."

The Brewers were set to escape the sixth without any damage until Branyan let a grounder by Jimenez scoot past him for an error that scored Jeff Baker from second to make it 3-0. In the seventh, Carlos Villanueva spoiled an otherwise solid relief effort by allowing a leadoff home run to Matt Holliday to make it 4-0.

With help from the Rockies, as well as the enthusiastic crowd, the Brewers put up three runs in the eighth.

As lightning and thunder rumbled outside, the Rockies contributed an error by first baseman Joe Koshansky, a wild pitch from reliever Taylor Buchholz and a pop-up by Craig Counsell in front of the plate that catcher Chris Iannetta and third baseman Garrett Atkins watched fall to the ground.

J.J. Hardy walked to load the bases, but Braun hit a screamer up the middle that hit the mound and went directly to shortstop Cliff Barmes, who turned the double play as Gabe Kapler scored from third.

Prince Fielder ignited the crowd when he lashed his 17th home run of the season over the center-field wall to score Counsell and make it 4-3.

But the Brewers went down in order in the ninth against Colorado closer Brian Fuentes to end the game and the dream of a perfect day.

"Everybody knows we play well at home, so one loss isn't going to dampen that," McClung said.

Besides, the new guy is pitching next.