MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Claudio Vargas' turnaround with Arizona

has carried into 2006.

Vargas had an impressive season debut with six strong innings as

the Diamondbacks handed the Milwaukee Brewers their first loss

of the season, 7-0, in the finale of a three-game series.

A waiver-wire claim after being dumped by the Washington

Nationals early last season, Vargas went 9-6 in 21 appearances

for Arizona after going 11-16 in parts of three years with the

Washington-Montreal franchise.

Vargas (1-0) allowed just two singles with six strikeouts and

one walk on Sunday. He retired 13 straight at one point -

including five by strikeout.

The Diamondbacks spotted Vargas a 1-0 lead in the first when

Damian Easley hit his first home run of the season.

Arizona got three more on just one hit in the seventh and added

three more in the eighth, including two on a homer by Tony

Clark.

Milwaukee starter Chris Capuano (1-1) struck out seven over 6

1/3 innings. He allowed four runs - three earned - and three

hits while walking four.

Corey Koskie had two hits for the Brewers, who were trying to

begin the season 6-0 for the first time since winning their

first 13 contests in 1987.