CHICAGO – Geremi Gonzalez was once a promising pitcher in Chicago, an 11-game winner as a rookie with the Cubs in 1997.

Much has changed after arm problems slowed his career. Gonzalez returned Thursday, this time as a spot starter for the Milwaukee Brewers, and beat Mark Prior for a victory against his former team.

“I love this place. Everybody in baseball loves Wrigley Field and they want to play here,” Gonzalez said after a five-inning outing that helped the Brewers beat the Cubs 5-4.

Gonzalez (1-0) got the ball when Doug Davis was scratched from his start a day earlier because of a stiff back.

The only two runs he gave up were set up by his own error when he failed to catch a popped bunt by Todd Walker, walked two batters and gave up a two-run single to Jacque Jones in the fifth.

“I was running to the popup, screaming, ‘I got it, I got it, I got it.’ As soon as I got to the ball, I think I lost concentration,” Gonzalez said.

The Brewers sent Prior to his third straight defeat, scoring four of their five runs with two outs. And they escaped a jam in the eighth when closer Derrick Turnbow struck out Derrek Lee with runners at second and third. The Cubs stranded 12 runners.

“I know what I want to do mentally, but unfortunately I’m not able to do it physically or haven’t been able to execute it,” Prior said. “And that’s the frustrating part.”