The Tampa Bay Rays haven't played like a cellar-dwelling team for the past week.

Logan Forsythe homered after missing four games due to back spasms, and the Rays took two of three from the AL West-leading Texas Rangers with an 8-4 victory on Sunday.

``Texas has been in first place all year,'' Rays starting pitcher Drew Smyly said. ``They've got very good lineup, great pitching and we beat them two out of three.''

Forsythe hit an opposite-field, three-run shot off Martin Perez (8-9) during a five-run fourth that made it 6-2. He has six homers in his last 10 games.

Tampa Bay, last in the AL East, has won six of seven. The Rays have outscored their opponents 55-18 during the stretch.

``I think we're getting big hits, having more quality at bats with guys in scoring position,'' Forsythe said. ``That's a great ball club over there. We just want to continue it and see where we end up.''

Smyly (6-11) allowed four runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings to go 4-0 in his last six starts.

Delino DeShields hit a two-run homer in the third inning and Drew Stubbs had a solo drive in the fifth for the Rangers, who are 1-9-2 in their last 12 regular-season road series against the Rays. Texas beat Tampa Bay in the 2010 and 2011 ALDS, going a combined 5-0 at Tropicana Field.

Perez, 1-8 on the road this season, gave up six runs, five hits and three walks over six innings.

Steven Souza Jr. put the Rays up 8-4 on a two-run homer in the eighth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: CF Kevin Kiermaier (left hip tightness) didn't start for the second straight game but entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth. ``We probably would rather have not used him, but given how tight the ballgame was right there, he just does so much for our defense,'' manager Kevin Cash said. ``We anticipate with a full night's rest he should be good to go.'' ... RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery), nearing the end of a rehab assignment, starts for Triple-A Durham on Monday night.

NUMBER GAME

Rays OF Mikie Mahtook is hitless in 29 at-bats after going 0 for 3. . Souza has homered twice in nine at-bats after hitting one in 158 at-bats. . The Rangers have homered in nine straight games against the Rays. . Texas last won a regular-season series at Tampa Bay May 30-June 1, 2011.

UP NEXT

Rays: Rookie LHP Blake Snell (4-5) faces Boston and one-time Tampa Bay ace David Price (11-8) Monday night.