Sabathia (1-0) allowed two earned runs and five hits in six innings in his first outing since the Brewers landed him in a trade with the Cleveland Indians on Monday. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner walked five batters, tying the season high he set back in April.

Now it remains to be seen whether the lineman-sized left-hander can pair with incumbent ace Ben Sheets to power the Brewers past the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central.

The Cubs delivered a quick counterpunch to Milwaukee’s trade for Sabathia by prying top starting pitcher Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics in a trade Tuesday.

Showcasing everything from a 96-mph fastball to offspeed pitches that dipped into the low 80s in front of a sellout crowd of 42,533 fans, Sabathia kept the Rockies grounded early. He allowed only five balls to escape the infield through his first five innings: a double, two singles and two flyouts as the Brewers took a 4-1 lead.

But Sabathia got in trouble in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs on an infield single by Matt Holliday and walks to Garrett Atkins and Ryan Spillborghs.

Yorvit Torrealba doubled down the right-field line, scoring Holliday and Atkins. Spillborghs came up limping at third with a strained left oblique and was taken out of the game for a pinch runner.

But Sabathia got out of the inning without giving up the lead. He reacted quickly to catch a line drive off the bat of Jayson Nix and threw to third to double up Scott Podsednik. After issuing a walk, Sabathia struck out pinch hitter Brad Hawpe on a 96-mph fastball.

Sabathia reacted emphatically, yelling and pumping his fist as he walked off the mound. He was replaced by reliever David Riske in the sixth, and the Brewers’ bullpen held on for the victory as Milwaukee added three runs in the seventh.

Ryan Braun hit his 22nd home run in the first, a three-run drive to left field off Mark Redman. A botched double play led to another Milwaukee run in the third.

Sabathia was touched for an unearned run in the fourth, after two singles and an apparent missed tag at second loaded the bases with no outs. Sabathia got Nix to ground into a double play, but Atkins scored from third to cut the lead to 4-1.