MILWAUKEE - In the losing clubhouse at Miller Park late Sunday afternoon, there were tears, hugs, handshakes and sincere farewells.

 There was a sense of accomplishment, too.

 The Brewers were eliminated from the National League Divisional Series courtesy of a 6-2 loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 before a sellout crowd of 43,934.

 But while Milwaukee didn't achieve its ultimate objective - reaching the World Series - it did make the postseason for the first time since 1982 and showed a lot of chutzpah along the way.

 "Obviously the organization's heading in the right direction,'' said left fielder Ryan Braun, who led the Brewers in home runs and runs batted in during the regular season. "Last year we finished over .500 for the first time in (15 years). This year we made it to the postseason for the first time in 26 years. Obviously we've accomplished some things we haven't done in a while. It's definitely exciting.''

 Milwaukee earned the NL wild-card berth during a chaotic stretch run. Manager Ned Yost was fired, third base coach Dale Sveum took over with 12 games remaining in the 162-game regular season and the Brewers proceeded to win six of their last seven games to get into the playoffs.

 Mark Attanasio, the Los Angeles investment banker who purchased the franchise for $223 million in 2004 and spent $90 million on payroll this season, said earlier this year the Brewers needed to reach the World Series to break even.

 That's not going to happen - even though the Brewers drew a record 3 million fans to Miller Park - but that didn't prevent Attanasio from calling the season a success.

 "Absolutely,'' he said in the somber clubhouse. "This group of guys, they played hard, they performed under pressure all year, including the elimination games the last 10 days and (Saturday).

 "We ran into a team that won 92 games and won their division that had three good innings against us. That was enough.''

 The defining point of the season came in early July when Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin traded four players to Cleveland for elite pitcher CC Sabathia. The hulking left-hander performed so well - 11-2 with a 1.65 earned run average in 17 starts - that will get strong consideration for NL Most Valuable Player.

 Asked if the Brewers had a successful season, Sabathia was emphatic.

 "No doubt,'' he said. "Just getting the experience of going to the postseason was big.''

 Sveum, the former Milwaukee shortstop, is hoping to return as full-time manager, but that decision hasn't been made.

 His message to the players afterward was simple.

 "Hell of a year and don't hang your heads about nothing,'' Sveum said. "You've got everything to be proud of.''