MILWAUKEE (AP) — The words are tattooed on Dale Sveum's arm.

It's the same message his father used to deliver before games. It's the same thing the Milwaukee Brewers' interim manager scrawled on a clubhouse board Sunday.

"Give 'em Hell."

CC Sabathia sure did. So did everyone else.

Now Prince Fielder and these blue-collar Brewers, the guys who untuck their shirts after each victory to acknowledge a job well done, get to move on.

"Something special has happened," Sveum said just before getting on a bus to fly to Philadelphia for Game 1 on Wednesday afternoon. "We want to continue it throughout the playoffs and hopefully get 11 more wins."

Next up, the Phillies, who were swept out of last year's playoffs by Colorado.

Quite a way for the Brewers to start October, after such a shaky start to September that included a 3-11 stretch and cost manager Ned Yost his job.

"I sent Ned an e-mail," general manager Doug Melvin said just after the Brewers clinched. "Dale's done a wonderful job these last 12 games in a tough situation with the pitching the way it was. (But) this is a big part of Ned, too."

On Monday, Melvin still hadn't heard from Yost, whom he picked to run the Brewers six years ago and who had promised to be celebrating wherever he ended up.

"I haven't heard back from Ned, but I plan to hear back from him. I don't know if he's traveling and he went away for a few days or whatever. I've talked to Ned a couple of times (previously)," Melvin said.

With Sveum taking over, the Brewers reached the postseason for the first time since 1982.

"We didn't take the direct path that everybody wanted us to take, but we took the fun path," said infielder Craig Counsell, who grew up in the suburbs of Milwaukee and won World Series rings with Florida and Arizona. "We made it exciting."

It was a long time coming, and thousands of fans came out for a rally sending the Brewers off.

Milwaukee hasn't seen the playoffs since MVP Robin Yount (now the bench coach) hit two home runs on the season's final day win the AL East. That squad also saw manager Buck Rodgers replaced with Harvey Kuenn as "Harvey's Wallbangers" reached Game 7 of the World Series.

This season looked lost so many times, including May 1 when Yovani Gallardo tore a ligament in his right knee hurdling a baserunner in Chicago.

Melvin lamented he'd no longer have his promising young righty to form a 1-2 punch with ace Ben Sheets.

But Melvin focused on finding the best rental after years of building a farm system that produced a lot of homegrown talent.