Surprise, Ariz. ? Kevin Millwood wants to be more consistent on the mound for the Texas Rangers this season. The healthy and leaner right-hander is off to a good start.

Millwood, who lost about 15 pounds during offseason workouts after being on the disabled list four times the past two years, pitched three scoreless innings Wednesday in the Rangers’ 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“I’ve made progress from my first start to today. If I can keep doing that all the way through spring, I’ll feel pretty good about it,” said Millwood, the Rangers’ opening-day starter the last three seasons. “I got a little more comfortable with my mechanics.”

Millwood has thrown five scoreless innings in two spring training starts, already one more than last year when he dealt with a hamstring issue and pitched mostly in the controlled environment of intrasquad and “B” games. He struck out two and walked one.

“He’s healthy right now,” manager Ron Washington said. “What he’s doing out there, it doesn’t surprise me. He knows how to pitch and he knows how to get outs.”

Justin Smoak, the Rangers’ first-round draft pick in 2008, hit a three-run homer in the seventh off Danny Cortes to snap a 2-all tie.

Alex Gordon homered in his second consecutive game for Kansas City, a solo shot in the seventh off Doug Mathis that tied it.