MILWAUKEE -- On the day the Pirates sent one left-hander to the minor leagues, another of their left-handers continued to make strides toward becoming the rock of the rotation.

Paul Maholm last night did what Tom Gorzelanny didn't. He attacked the bottom of the strike zone, was efficient with his pitches and got a bunch of ground-ball outs.

And all it got Maholm was a no-decision.

Milwaukee beat the Pirates, 2-1, on Prince Fielder's single off Tyler Yates in the ninth inning -- but he provided a win of sorts.

Because the Pirates' bullpen is without closer Matt Capps, manager John Russell's thought process about his relievers can change daily.

Maholm's deep start was welcome.

"Deep starts are the key to anything," Russell said.

In the Pirates' case, a deep start means Russell doesn't have to start using his bullpen in the third inning. Or fifth.

He can use the bullpen the way he wants.

"From the sixth inning on, you might look at matchups a little bit more," he said.

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• Box score
• Statistics
• Standings

Today

• Game: Pirates vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 2:05 p.m., Miller Park.
• TV/Radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WPGB-FM (104.7).
• Pitching: LHP Zach Duke (4-5, 3.88) vs. RHP Jeff Suppan (5-6, 4.30).
• Key matchup: Duke, who hasn't won on the road in 12 starts since winning in Cincinnati May 27, 2007, vs. J.J. Hardy. The Milwaukee shortstop -- hot against everybody recently -- lifetime against Duke is 8 for 13 with two home runs and six RBIs.
• Of note: Suppan in seven starts at Miller Park this season has a 2.22 earned run average, but that's translated into just a 2-1 record.

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Not necessarily left-hander against left-hander, either.

"It's more where we are in their lineup," Russell said.

"Are they aggressive fastball hitters? Is a breaking ball guy a better fit? What guys do you have down there [in the bullpen]? Who's freshest? Who's a guy that we really need to give a day off?

"As the game goes on, you start planning ahead about what kind of matchups you're looking for. You just try to stay a step ahead."

Maholm gave Russell plenty of time to think last night. "He threw the ball great," Russell said.

"And he's been a great student of the game, and it's starting to show. His preparation is phenomenal. He's been very consistent. And he's really taken on a commitment to avoid big innings."

Maholm has given the Pirates at least six innings in each of his past 11 starts.

In his past seven starts, he has allowed only 15 earned runs in 49 1/3 innings.

He seems also to have conquered his problems with pitching on the road, which surfaced early in the season.

In his past four road starts, he has yielded just six earned runs in 27 2/3 innings.

Maholm recorded 11 outs on ground balls, with shortstop Jack Wilson figuring in nine of those.

"It's good when Jack's busy," Maholm said. "I enjoy watching him field it and throw it."

Mike Cameron, who entered the game 5 for 6 lifetime against Maholm, accounted for the only run he yielded last night. With two outs in the second, the right-handed batting Cameron drove a low and away, 3-2 changeup over the right-center field wall.

Milwaukee starter Dave Bush was just as good as Maholm.

Bush, who is 1-6 with a 6.95 earned run average on the road this season, has excelled at home. In his five previous Miller Park starts, he was 3-1 and allowed only eight earned runs in 34 innings.

And he was even better than that last night.

The Pirates managed just four hits and a run off the right-hander, who retired the final 12 batters he faced.

That perfect run began after the Pirates scored in the fifth.

Adam LaRoche led off with a pop fly into short center field. Cameron had a difficult time getting a jump because the ball was in early evening sunshine. He made a diving try but couldn't catch the ball, which bounced behind him.

That bounce allowed LaRoche to reach second with a double.

Jose Bautista doubled over Cameron's head, scoring LaRoche. When the throw to the plate went to the backstop, Bautista continued to third.

However, the Pirates couldn't score that run.

Maholm struck out.

With the infield playing in, Bautista, who was under orders not to run on contact, had to hold on Wilson's bouncer to second. Nate McLouth flied to center for the third out.

The Brewers had a great chance to win the game the inning before they did.

Bill Hall opened with a double into the left-field corner. Jason Kendall hit a bouncer to Wilson, who threw to third. Bautista tagged Hall, then threw across the diamond to get Kendall trying to get back to first base.

"A fortunate double play," Russell said.

In the ninth, though, the Pirates couldn't get a double play at all.

Yates got ahead of leadoff batter Rickie Weeks 0-2 but walked him. J.J. Hardy sacrificed Weeks to second. The Pirates walked Ryan Braun intentionally to set up a double play with the slow-footed Fielder at bat.

Didn't work.

Fielder lined a 1-2 pitch into left-center field, and it was over.