Sports

MILWAUKEE - After Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel reminisced Friday about Gil Hodges' World Series exploits in the 1950s, Jamie Moyer couldn't help himself.

"I think I faced Gil Hodges in that series," Moyer joked.

Still going strong at age 45, Moyer has the admiration of his teammates but hardly strikes fear into opposing batters. He didn't throw particularly hard when he was young but somehow still gets by today with a fastball that tops out in the low 80s.

But if the Milwaukee Brewers think they're getting a break after being overwhelmed by Phillies pitchers in Games 1 and 2, they might want to reconsider.

Down 0-2 and facing elimination, the Brewers must face a pitcher who gave up just four runs in two outings against them this season and has a career 2.43 ERA in five postseason starts.

"Jamie, he's tremendous," said Phillies outfielder Geoff Jenkins, a former Brewer. "He's 100, and he just keeps doing it."

And if the Brewers can't keep Moyer (16-7) from overwhelming them today, their first trip to the playoffs since 1982 will end quickly.

"I honestly feel like there was more pressure to get into the playoffs, and once we got here, I thought that all the pressure was off us, and we could just go and start playing like we played in the middle of the season," Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy said. "Obviously, that's not the case the first two games. Hopefully we can turn it around the next couple."

Right-hander Dave Bush (9-10) starts for the Brewers, who have managed a total of only three runs and seven hits in the first two games.