Ryan Braun's first-inning home run stood up for the duration, and Milwaukee Brewers (6-18) pitchers combined to strike out 18 Chicago Cubs (13-9) as the Brewers won 6-1 in Wrigley Field Saturday afternoon.

With no score and one out in the top of the first, Bruan launched the first pitch he saw from Jake Arrieta over the center-field wall for a two-run shot (5) to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead, one they would never relinquish (video). Jean Segura, who had singled with one out, also scored on the blast.

Milwaukee scored two more in the second via separate singles from Carlos Gomez (returning from the disabled list) and Segura. Martin Maldonado scored on Gomez's single.

On that bloop hit, Cubs second baseman Addison Russell collided with first baseman Anthony Rizzo in what looked like an ugly scence that could have taken both out of the game for an extended time (video). They bumped chests, and both players hit their heads on the ground. They stayed down for over a minute, and Russell needed some attention from his team's trainers. Fortunately, both were fine and stayed in the game.

Gomez then stole second and third and scored on Segura's hit that followed.

Milwaukee added single runs in the seventh (Segura RBI triple) and ninth. Logan Schafer grounded to short. Starlin Castro made the first of two Cubs throwing errors on the play, bouncing it past Rizzo to allow Schafer to reach and advance. Rizzo picked up the ball but did not pay attention to Schafer, who had rounded second. Rizzo then threw to an unattended third base, allowing Schafer to score on the "Little League home run."

The Cubs got their lone run on Rizzo's solo shot (3) in the bottom of the sixth, but they could not even form a semblance of a comeback as they struck out 18 times on the day. Kris Bryant was 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts. 

Mike Fiers (W: 1-3, 4.74 ERA) pitched six innings, allowing one run on three hits, including Rizzo's home run. He also walked two and struck out 12. Three Brewers relievers each pitched a scoreless inning, combining for two hits and six strikeouts.

For the first time since August of 2013, Arrieta (L: 3-2, 2.84) allowed four earned runs in a home start. He gave up seven hits while walking one and striking out six. He served up Braun's first-inning home run.

The two teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series Sunday at 2:20 p.m. EDT. Jimmy Nelson (1-2, 4.03) will pitch for Milwaukee while Jason Hammel (2-1, 3.55) will take the mound for the Cubs.