Erratic Sabathia victorious on Brewers debut

Fans react after the Milwaukee Brewers' newly acquired starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia got out of a bases loaded jam against the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning of his first game as an MLB (Major League Baseball) National League pitcher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin July 8, 2008. (REUTERS/Allen Fredrickson)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - C.C. Sabathia walked five batters over six innings on his Milwaukee Brewers debut but still picked up the win in guiding his new team to a 7-3 home triumph over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.

Last season's American League Cy Young Award winner allowed two earned runs on five hits and despite tying a season-high for walks, emerged as a winner on his first outing for the Brewers a day after he was acquired from the Cleveland Indians.

Milwaukee are hoping that Sabathia will help them challenge Chicago for first place in the NL Central, although the division leading Cubs countered by acquiring starting pitcher Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics in a six-player deal on Tuesday.

Sabathia, who was 6-8 this season in Cleveland, also struck out five and ran into trouble in the sixth inning with the Brewers ahead 4-1.

He loaded the bases with no one out and allowed a two-run double to Yorvit Torrealba before escaping the inning with a 4-3 lead, screaming and pumping his fist after getting the final out.

"It was just kind of a release," Sabathia told reporters.

"You'll see that from me from time to time -- not much but from time to time. I get riled up, I have to let it out."

Three relievers combined for three shutout innings and the Brewers added three more runs in the seventh.

Ryan Braun's three-run homer in the first off Colorado starter Mark Redman (2-4) staked Sabathia to an early lead he would never relinquish.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto; Editing by John O'Brien)