ARLINGTON – The Rangers are over .500 for the first time in the Ron Washington era.

But that was the last thing the second-year manager wanted to talk about after the Rangers swept Thursday's doubleheader from Baltimore, previously the hottest team in the American League.

The topics of interest to Washington after the 3-1 and 5-4 victories were the Rangers' surprising starting pitching, timely and aggressive hitting and the bookend saves by first-year closer C.J. Wilson.

To Washington, those were a much bigger deal than improving to 5-4, even if it's the first time the Rangers have been above .500 since Sept, 23, 2006, when they were 78-77.

"We've played only nine ballgames," Washington said. "We're playing very well. Ask me when we're 15 or 20 games over .500, then yeah, maybe I'll be excited about it."

Washington had plenty to be excited about Thursday. Some of the highlights:

■ The starting pitching continues to shine. Kevin Millwood and Kason Gabbard combined to allow four earned runs in 12 2/3 innings. That gives the Rangers' rotation a 2.88 ERA entering today's series against Toronto.

Millwood has been the staff's ringleader, even if his win Thursday was only his first in three starts. He left with a 1.29 ERA.

The Rangers gave Millwood a five-year contract to be the leader of the pitching staff, and in his third season, he may be doing just that.

"My whole deal was to get off to a good start," Millwood said. "I think I've done that."

■ The offense finally produced in the clutch after sleeping through Tuesday's home opener, an 8-1 loss. It took awhile Thursday, as the Rangers were hitless in their first six chances with runners in scoring position in Game 1.

AP

Rangers starter Kevin Millwood fields a ground ball off the bat of Baltimore's Brandon Fahey in the fourth inning of Game 1.

"Up until the seventh, there wasn't much we could do," Washington said.

Ian Kinsler had a one-out single and stole second on his own. He scored the go-ahead run on Michael Young's line drive to center.

Young was then given the green light from Washington. He stole second and scored on an aggressive decision by third-base coach Matt Walbeck on Josh Hamilton's shallow fly ball to right field.

Young and Kinsler had the key hits in Game 2. Young had a home run to get the offense going in the first inning, and Kinsler snapped a 4-4 tie in Game 2 with a run-scoring single.

Wilson retired all six batters he faced in the two games. He was so effective in the first game, throwing 10 pitches, that he was available to come back in the second.

Wilson credited Joaquin Benoit and Jamey Wright, who produced quality efforts in front of him.

"It helps when guys are setting you up," Wilson said.