MILWAUKEE - CC Sabathia was a little wild in his debut with the Milwaukee Brewers but still delivered as advertised in a 7-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Sabathia (1-0) gave up two earned runs and five hits over six innings in his first outing since being traded by Cleveland on Monday. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner walked five, tying the season high he set back in April.

Now it remains to be seen whether the tight end-sized left-hander can pair with incumbent ace Ben Sheets to power the Brewers past the Chicago Cubs -- who delivered a quick counterpunch to Milwaukee's trade for Sabathia by prying Rich Harden from Oakland 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, 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 pinch-runner Scott Podsednik.

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 Podsednik. After issuing another walk, Sabathia struck out pinch-hitter Brad Hawpe on a 96 mph fastball to end the inning.

Sabathia reacted emphatically, yelling and pumping his fist as he walked off the mound. He was replaced by reliever David Riske -- an old buddy from his Cleveland days -- in the seventh, and the Brewers' bullpen held on for the victory.

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