Brewers 7, Cubs 4: Marco Estrada worked seven solid innings and Martin Maldonado drove in three as visiting Milwaukee snapped a five-game losing streak in the opener of a three-game series from Chicago.

Estrada (1-0) allowed a pair of runs and five hits while striking out six and helped himself with an RBI double in the seventh. Ryan Braun (neck spasms) returned after a three-game absence and went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Brewers.

Welington Castillo hit a two-run homer and Nate Schierholtz had two hits and an RBI for Chicago, which pushed across two runs in the ninth and had the bases loaded with one out before Jim Henderson escaped the jam to earn the save and send the Cubs to their fourth straight defeat.

Edwin Jackson (0-2) started for Chicago and struggled with his command in the first inning. After forcing in a run with a bases-loaded walk, Jackson left a first-pitch fastball up in the zone and Maldonado sliced it into the right field corner for a bases-clearing double.

Braun tacked on an RBI double in the second and Milwaukee added two in the seventh for a five-run lead. Jackson ended up issuing five walks and striking out six while allowing five runs and eight hits in six innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Brewers SS Jean Segura (deep thigh bruise) missed the game. Alex Gonzalez played in his place - the third position he's started this season - and scored a pair of runs. … Cubs RH Carlos Marmol, who lost his role as closer with a rough start, allowed a walk and a hit in a scoreless eighth inning to lower his ERA to 16.88. … Chicago leadoff hitter David DeJesus went 0-for-3 and is 2-for-21 to begin the campaign.