Forsythe homers in return as Rays beat Rangers
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Logan Forsythe hit a three-run homer in his return to the lineup to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 8-4 win against the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field on Sunday.
Forsythe's home run completed a five-run fourth inning that gave the Rays a 6-2 lead as Tampa Bay took two out of three games from the American League West leaders.
Tampa Bay trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the fourth when second baseman Tim Beckham hit a double down the right field line. Right fielder Steven Souza Jr. and left fielder Corey Dickerson followed with singles and Beckham scored to tie the game. Catcher Bobby Wilson executed a perfect bunt on a squeeze play that Souza Jr. scored on to give the Rays a 3-2 lead.
Forsythe came up with two guys on and sent a 2-1 offering from Rangers starter Martin Perez over the wall in left center.
The Rangers cut the lead in half with a solo home run from right fielder Drew Stubbs in the bottom of the fifth off Rays starter Drew Smyly.
Texas threatened again in the seventh after an RBI single from pinch hitter Mitch Moreland made the score 6-4 with two men on base and two outs. The Rays escaped further damage, however, when reliever Brad Boxberger struck out Delino DeShields to end the inning.
Tampa Bay got two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth when Souza Jr. hit a home run to right center field with first baseman Brad Miller on base. The homer was Souza Jr.'s 13th of the season and gave the Rays an 8-4 lead.
The Rangers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning off a two-run homer by DeShields that also scored catcher Robinson Chirinos. The Rays got their first run in the bottom of the third off an RBI double by Even Longoria.
Smyly gave up four runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings to improve to 6-11 for the season. He also struck out seven.
Perez gave up six runs on five hits in six innings. The loss drops him to 8-9.
NOTES: Rays INF Logan Forsythe is back in the lineup after missing the past four games with back spasms. He is batting in the leadoff position as the designated hitter. ... Rangers OF Carlos Gomez will make his debut with the organization Sunday night for Triple-A Round Rock against Colorado Springs. ... Rays CF Kevin Kiermaier is out for his second straight game with a sore hip. ... Rangers RHP Tanner Scheppers made his second rehab appearance with Double-A Frisco on Saturday and gave up one run and one hit in one inning of work. ... Rays RHP Alex Cobb will make a rehab start for Triple-A Durham on Monday against Norfolk.