CHICAGO -- If a walk is as good as a hit then the Chicago Cubs are hitting a ton this month. In reality, their batting average is in the middle of the pack but after their third game of April in which they collected 11 walks, they’re doing just fine at the plate. The Milwaukee Brewers pitchers didn’t do their fielders any favors on Thursday as they stood in 45-degree temperatures as the Cubs took their free passes. Kris Bryant was also hit twice by pitches. That’s a lot of jogging to first base as the Cubs coasted to a 7-2 victory.

It’s been the story of Chicago's offense this month, even overshadowing a Jake Arrieta start. The Cubs have walked 113 times, by far the most of any team in baseball and in one less game played than the next most walked team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Whereas the Cubs took advantage as early as the first inning when Ben Zobrist delivered a 2-run, bases loaded single the Brewers could not do the same in the top half of the first. Arrieta walked two himself but struck out the final two batters leaving the bases full of runners.

Arrieta’s quality start streak ended at 24 games. A lengthy first inning in which he threw 31 pitches shortened his day. He also finally gave up a run at home after 52.2 innings pitched going back to last season. And the first hitter of the game, Jonathan Villar, ended any hopes of back-to-back no-hitters as he singled to left just a minute or so after the first pitch.

Arrieta still got the win and the Cubs won for the 18th consecutive time when he took the mound. He walked four while reliever Trevor Cahill walked three making it a long afternoon for everyone. But it was the Cubs who took advantage of their chances moving to 16-5 after their 7-2 victory.