CHICAGO - Jake Arrieta's bid for a second straight no-hitter was dashed on his fifth pitch. His Wrigley Field scoreless streak ended at 52 2/3 innings.

Oh, and he won his 16th consecutive decision, the longest streak in the major leagues in a decade.

"I was a little flat today," the NL Cy Young Award winner said Thursday after leading the Chicago Cubs over the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2.

Chicago improved to 16-5, its best 21-game start since opening 1907 at 17-4.

"Our most important ballgames are still ahead of us," Arrieta said. "We're still lined up pretty well."

Arrieta (5-0) gave up one run, three hits and four walks in five innings — the first run he allowed at home since July 25. Alex Presley's fifth-inning RBI double ended Arrieta's home scoreless streak at 52 2/3 innings, four outs shy of Ray Herbert's major league record set with the Chicago White Sox in 1962-63.

Arrieta's streak of consecutive winning decisions is the longest since Jose Contreras of the White Sox won 17 in a row from August 2005 to July 2006, according to STATS. Chicago has won in Arrieta's last 18 starts, a team record.

Cubs catcher David Ross believed some perspective was needed.

"For him to have an off night, and he gave up one (run)," Ross said.

Arrieta's streak of consecutive quality starts ended at 24, two shy of Bob Gibson's record from 1967-68.

"I saw 92 pitches. I saw the Cubs trying to win a World Series. I saw the next five years of his career," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "All that stuff mattered much more than breaking Gibson's record."

Cubs left fielder Kris Bryant left in the fifth after rolling his right ankle while running the bases two innings earlier. The team called it a "mild" sprain, but said Bryant was to undergo an MRI.

After throwing 119 pitches at Cincinnati on April 21 in his second no-hitter in a span of 11 regular-season starts, Arrieta had six days' rest. The Cubs were off Monday, and Wednesday's game was rained out.

Arrieta acknowledged he's "not accustomed" to the extra days off.

Wearing short sleeves on a 45-degree cloudy day with a 12 mph wind at his back, Arrieta had trouble locating his fastball.

He needed 31 pitches to get through the first inning, when Jonathan Villar led off with an opposite-field, broken-bat single over third base. A pair of one-out walks loaded the bases before Chris Carter and Kirk Nieuwenhuis struck out on elevated 94 mph fastballs.

Arrieta initially protested, then agreed with Maddon's call to lift him after five innings.

"The extra off days, the rainout last night, cold weather, extended pitch counts, long first inning, it is the right way to go," Arrieta said.

Ben Zobrist hit a two-run single in the first off Taylor Jungmann (0-4), who gave up five runs, six hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings as his ERA rose to 9.15. He also hit Bryant with two pitches.

"I think right now I'm a little timid," Jungmann said. "That's never been me, but it's obvious when you watch the game. Too much going on in my head and not competing."

Ross hit solo home run onto Waveland Avenue in the second, and Anthony Rizzo and Tommy La Stella added RBI doubles in the third for a 5-0 lead.

Villar had three hits and stole three bases as the Brewers lost to the Cubs for the 14th time in 15 games thanks to suspect pitching.

"There's no success in 11 walks, that's for sure," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We were fortunate to only give up seven runs."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: 2B Scooter Gennett (right oblique) was placed on the 15-day disabled list and Milwaukee selected the contract of INF Hernan Perez from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Manager Craig Counsell said Gennett will miss about three weeks. Perez replaced 3B Aaron Hill in the fourth as part of a double switch. To clear a roster spot, RHP Matt Garza was transferred to the 60-day DL.

Cubs: C Miguel Montero (lower back tightness) went on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Monday. C Tim Federowicz was recalled from Triple-A Iowa over prospect Willson Contreras, whose "time will come," according to manager Joe Maddon.

UP NEXT

Brewers: RHP Zach Davies (0-2, 9.72 ERA) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game home series against Miami and LHP Adam Conley (0-1, 5.12).

Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (2-1, 1.98) faces Atlanta RHP Aaron Blair (0-1, 5.06) at Wrigley to begin a three-game series matching the NL teams with the best and worst records.