NEW YORK – After the Rangers fell down a well early this season, then clawed back, it took five unsuccessful tries before they moved back above .500. It took them another five failed attempts before they climbed two games above.

Today, largely because the bullpen appears to be settling into some roles, the Rangers will take their first stab the last two seasons at three games above even. They hadn't been two above .500 since September 2006.

Given a 2-1 lead and a big jam in the sixth inning, three relievers combined to retire all 10 New York hitters they faced to make the slim margin hold up in a ballpark where they've enjoyed little success. It's the first time since 1992 the Rangers have won a game at Yankee Stadium with so few runs.

"The bullpen is working in awesome fashion right now," manager Ron Washington said. "Things are falling in line out there, and they are doing what they have to do to pass the batonThey are doing their job."

They were so good at passing it Monday, they didn't even flinch when one of their stalwarts stumbled. Left-hander Eddie Guardado couldn't get his shoulder loose and after three warmup pitches before the eighth, he walked off the mound shaking his head. Guardado described the pain as a "little pinch." The Rangers said he would be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

The relievers were handed the baton after Scott Feldman fought his way through 5 2/3 innings. While he struggled with some command, he didn't allow a hit until Alex Rodriguez crushed a loopy one-out curveball for a solo home run in the fourth.

When Jason Giambi tripled off the base of the right-field wall with two outs in the sixth against Scott Feldman, Washington didn't hesitate to go to his relievers. He's been more comfortable in doing that the last 10 days. And with good reason. The bullpen, which has languished with the highest ERA in the majors for most of the season, has allowed just four runs in its last 31 innings (1.16 ERA).

Frank Francisco was first. He finished off a resurgent month by striking out Jorge Posada with some overpowering fastballs. Francisco, who allowed the majors' lowest percentage of inherited runners to score last year (6.8), has stranded the last 10 runners he has inherited.

"When I get in those situations, I just turn it on," Francisco said. "I like being in those situations. It lets me pitch to my strength, the fastball."

Francisco plowed through the bottom third of the order in the seventh before the Rangers tried to go to Guardado, who has allowed just two base-runners in his last six innings.

When Guardado couldn't get loose, the Rangers went to Jamey Wright. Wright appears refreshed after an early June slump, perhaps due to a heavy workload in the first two months of the season. Wright retired Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu on two ground balls and a strikeout. He's allowed just one run in 9 2/3 innings over the last three weeks.

And then C.J. Wilson, who has come within perhaps batters of being banished from the closer's spot, finished it off with an efficient 13-pitch ninth inning for his fourth save in the last eight days.

"I like where our bullpen is right now," Wilson said. "Sometimes it just takes time to sort everything out."