MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Hours after hearing that his home near Biloxi,

Miss., sustained only minor damage from Hurricane Katrina, Paul

Maholm had quite a major league debut.

Maholm pitched eight shutout innings Tuesday night and the

Pittsburgh Pirates had a five-run first inning in a 6-0 victory

over the Milwaukee Brewers that snapped a five-game losing streak.

The Pirates' first-round draft choice in 2003, Maholm (1-0)

lives in Ocean Springs, Miss., just across Back Bay from Biloxi.

The entire area was devastated by the hurricane, but Maholm

received a phone call from his in-laws about 11 a.m. that his house

was not destroyed.

"We're very lucky," he said after giving up four hits, walking

three and striking out five. "Unfortunately, there are a lot of

people that are going to be hurting, for probably years, to get

back.

"When I go home, there's not going to be a lot there, but at

least I'm not going to have to deal with a lot to get my house back

together," he said.

Maholm replaced Zach Duke in the rotation when the Pirates'

rookie phenom went on the disabled list. The left-hander kept the

Brewers 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

"This is more than I could ever have expected my debut would

have been," he said. "What happened was way better than I thought

it could be. I was just trying to keep the game winnable for us and

with a five spot that made it pretty easy."

Maholm said he stopped thinking about the hurricane once he took

the field for pregame warmups.

"I got here and watched the news and got my mind off the

game," he said of getting in the clubhouse before the game. "Once

I went out and started stretching, it was gametime. I guess that's

one of my strengths. I can just block a lot of stuff out, go after

it and get the job done."

Milwaukee's Doug Davis (9-10) has failed to win in 13 starts

dating to June 22. The left-hander walked four and gave up two hits

in the five-run first.

The Brewers have lost three consecutive games since ace Ben

Sheets tore a back muscle, a season-ending injury.

Davis, who leads the NL with 82 walks, had trouble with his

control in the first. He retired the first two batters, but walked

Jason Bay and Craig Wilson.

Ryan Doumit singled for a 1-0 lead, and Davis then walked Brad

Eldred and Ty Wigginton, scoring Wilson.

Jack Wilson then doubled, clearing the bases for a 5-0 lead.

"He didn't have any trouble getting the first two hitters

out," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "We're talking about a

third of an inning that killed us."

Davis said pitching coach Mike Maddux told him to stop

overthrowing and throwing across his body in the middle of the

first inning.

"I just got out of whack a little bit, mechanics weren't

there," he said. "Stupid mistake. It doesn't seem like I ever

learn from it. Thirty-three pitches to get one out."

Over the next six innings, the Pirates managed only three

singles without a walk against Davis. He pitched seven innings,

giving up five runs and five hits, walking four and striking out

eight.

Pittsburgh added a run in the ninth on Tike Redman's RBI

single.Game notes
Maholm singled in the fourth, his first major league hit in

his second plate appearance. ... Brewers RHP Matt Wise, out with a

pulled muscle in his ribcage, threw a simulated game Tuesday. His

status will be evaluated Wednesday and he could be reinstated when

the rosters expand Thursday. ... Jack Wilson has 17 RBI this

month. ... Milwaukee RF Geoff Jenkins was out of the lineup with a

sore back. Yost said the left-handed hitting Jenkins may also be

held out of the lineup Wednesday because Pittsburgh will start LHP

Mark Redman. ... Davis has not won since beating the Chicago Cubs

9-4 on June 22. ... Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks is in an 0-for-19

slump.