Arrieta struggles with rhythm in loss to Brewers

CHICAGO -- Jake Arrieta had a tough time getting into a rhythm early on Saturday, and Ryan Braun made him pay.

The Cubs right-hander gave up a season-high four runs on seven hits over five innings, snapping a stretch of 15 consecutive quality starts at Wrigley Field dating to Sept. 25, 2013. That was all the Brewers needed to post a 6-1 win on Saturday and even the series.

Braun connected on Arrieta's ninth pitch of the game with one out in the first after Jean Segura singled, launching an elevated fastball into the juniper bushes in straightaway center.

"I just missed with a heater early in the count to Braun," Arrieta said. "He was able to put a good swing on it. I just wasn't very good today, plain and simple. I didn't do a good enough job. We need more out of our starter and I didn't give us the effort I intended to today."

It was only Arrieta's third loss in his last 16 starts at Wrigley Field.

"They put some good swings on a lot of pitches," Arrieta said of the Brewers. "Too many balls with too much height over the plate. I think they had four bloop hits which led to the two runs in the second. I've got to come out better, that's really it."