ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando needed just 25 pitches to get through three innings on Wednesday, earning his third win of the season.

Ogando became the first player since 1968 (Detroit's Jon Warden) to start his major league career with three relief wins (and just the third ever since 1900). He's done it allowing just one hit. Wednesday was Ogando's best showing to date. He had two strikeouts and no walks in three innings of work. Of his 25 pitches, 20 were strikes.

"My fastball was working, and when it's working my other pitches get better," Ogando said through a translator. "It's important for me to learn as much as I can up here and I think I'm doing that."

Ogando, listed at 6-foot-4, 185 pounds (though it doesn't look like he weighs anything more than 170), has quickly ascended to the majors once he started playing professional baseball in the United States. Ogando's visa problems have been well documented, but he made it to spring training this year and was solid enough in the minor league system to work his way to the majors.

Ogando's goal is to do enough to stay here. To do that, he's focused on improving his changeup, especially to left-handed hitters.

"I'm focused on doing that," Ogando said. "I thought it was much better tonight."

Ogando said he used the pitch in several at-bats against left-handed hitters -- the Pirates' lineup featured three left-handed batters and three switch hitters who batted left-handed against Ogando, so he got plenty of chances to put it to work. He also has a slider that is isn't afraid to use in a variety of counts.

"He's aggressive and throws strikes down in the zone," manager Ron Washington said. "When you do that, you're going to have success."

Other reaction:

* SS Elvis Andrus, who has been struggling at the plate, had three hits and scored three runs. He also showed an ability to go to the opposite field. Michael Young said Andrus had a very good batting practice session and was hitting balls the other way then. It clearly translated to the game.

"I wasn't getting hits going opposite field and I started trying to pull the ball instead of just hitting it and letting things happen," Andrus said. "I relaxed and just went with the pitches. That's what I have to do. It felt better."

There's no question Andrus is important to this club's offense. If he can get on base more, it sets the table for the rest of the lineup. And as well as Julio Borbon is hitting in the No. 9 spot, it could create some real issues with speed on the bases for the opponent.

* Young said he was not thinking about the cycle when Washington asked him if he wanted to get off his feet for half the game. "We were up 11 runs at that point, so I wouldn't have been going for a triple anyway," Young said. "There's a time and place to do that, and that wasn't it. It was good to get some time off."

That's typical of Young's respect for the game and his team. As Washington said: "Young would have hit one to the gap and not gone to third. That's the way he is."

* LHP Matt Harrison got his first career save, going the final three innings in relief. Combined, Ogando and Harrison allowed just one run and two hits with five strikeouts and no walks.