MILWAUKEE -- Former Brewers closer Francisco Cordero did not get a warm reception when he returned to Miller Park earlier this month as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.

Things should be different for outfielder Geoff Jenkins beginning Wednesday when he shows up with the Philadelphia Phillies for the opener of a quick, two-game series. After 10 Major League seasons with the Brewers, Jenkins, who got a standing ovation the last time he was on the field at Miller Park, will be wearing a different uniform there for the first time.

"He left under good terms," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "It wasn't like Coco [Cordero], who kind of surprised everybody."

Jenkins' departure came as no surprise. The Brewers, as expected, declined his $9 million option for 2008 and Jenkins inked a two-year contract with Philadelphia. The move formally severed ties with Milwaukee that existed since 1995, when the Brewers made Jenkins their first-round Draft pick.

He was up in the Majors by 1998, hitting a home run off Orel Hershiser in his first Brewers plate appearance. He overcame a serious ankle injury in 2002 to make his only All-Star team in 2003, and may have been the most appreciative player in uniform when the Brewers won 81 games in 2005, snapping a streak of 12 consecutive losing seasons.

But Jenkins was pushed out beginning late in the 2006 season, when he was benched by Yost in favor of a young Corey Hart. In 2007, Jenkins platooned in left field with Kevin Mench and batted .255 with 21 home runs, his seventh season with at least 20 homers.

"Geoff gave his heart and soul here," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said over the winter. "It's unfortunate that his best years were when the club wasn't very good."

Jenkins hit 221 Brewers home runs, second in club history to Hall of Famer Robin Yount's 251. Jenkins also departed as one of the franchise leaders in RBIs (fourth, 704), doubles (fourth, 287), runs scored (fifth, 661), hits (fifth, 1,221), and games played (sixth, 1,234). He also struck out 1,118 times, second in club history to Yount's 1,350, though Yount had 6,601 more at-bats.

After the Brewers formally declined his option, MLB.com asked Jenkins if it would be strange to return in a different uniform.

"I'm sure it will be a little weird, but I'm excited about it," Jenkins said on Nov. 2. "There are other great organizations, great teammates and great fans out there. Free agency is a new experience for me and we'll have to figure out what is the best situation. I'm excited about the road ahead."

He would later take out a full-page ad in the local newspaper thanking Milwaukee fans for their support over the previous decade. Jenkins expressed similar sentiments in the days after the Brewers let him go.

"Not a lot of players get to stay in one place as long as I did and get to nurture those relationships with a city," Jenkins said. "I loved every minute I was there and I owe a lot to that organization for all that it gave me.

"I gave 100 percent of what I had every single time I stepped on that field," he said. "I think the fans know that. I'd love to be involved with the team again somewhere down the line."

He'll get involved on Wednesday, though not in the coaching capacity Jenkins was referring to. This start originally was to belong to Ben Sheets, but he was bumped to April 29 allow his strained right triceps to heal. Right-hander Dave Bush, who was briefly bumped from the rotation on Sunday to make room for Yovani Gallardo, will take Sheets' place.

The Brewers may have 14 pitchers on the active roster, but they still need some serious innings from Bush after Tuesday's 12-inning win over the Cardinals. Four of the Brewers' last six games have gone to extra innings.

This is the Phillies' only visit to Milwaukee this season.

Pitching matchup
MIL: RHP Dave Bush (0-3, 7.02 ERA)
Bush, still looking for his first victory of the season, had his fourth start pushed back to allow for the return of Gallardo on Sunday. Bush allowed seven earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in two appearances against Philadelphia last season. He's 0-0 with a 6.23 ERA in four career appearances vs. the Phillies.

PHI: LHP Cole Hamels (2-2, 1.86 ERA)
Numbers-wise, Hamels' last outing was his worst this season. He surrendered five runs (four earned) on eight hits in a 6-4 loss to the New York Mets on Friday. But Hamels actually pitched well until he reached the eighth. That's when he imploded, as the Mets scored three runs on four hits. Hamels is 1-0 lifetime against the Brewers, with a 3.60 ERA.

Tidbits
The Brewers are 5-1 in extra-inning games this season. ... Shortstop J.J. Hardy should be back in the lineup on Wednesday after getting Tuesday off, his second break this season. Craig Counsell started in Hardy's place, and Yost will continue to try working Counsell into the lineup at least twice a week to keep him sharp ... Since joining the National League in 1998, the Brewers have been much better against the Phillies at home (21-16) than in Philadelphia (10-24). ... Brewers left-hander Brian Shouse will host an online chat on Friday at 2:30 p.m. CT. Fans must register with MLB.com before submitting questions.

Tickets
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On the Internet
 MLB.TV
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•  Official game notes

On television
• FSN Wisconsin

On radio
• WTMJ 620

Up next
• Thursday: Brewers (Jeff Suppan, 1-0, 4.13) vs. Phillies (Jamie Moyer, 1-1, 4.79), 12:05 p.m. CT
• Friday: Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 0-0, 1.29) vs. Marlins (Scott Olsen, 3-0, 2.60), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Brewers (Carlos Villanueva, 1-2, 5.09) vs. Marlins (Mark Hendrickson, 4-1, 3.82), 6:05 p.m. CT