By ERIK ERLENDSSON<\/p>\n
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) \u2014 Cedric Mullins hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, Jonny DeLuca also went deep and seven pitchers combined on a two-hitter for the Tampa Bay Rays in a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Bryan Baker converted his 30th save of the season and 19th in a row with a scoreless ninth. Garrett Cleavinger (3-3) picked up the win as AL East-leading Tampa Bay moved a season-best 20 games over .500 (64-44).<\/p>\n
Ben Peoples (0-1) took the loss.<\/p>\n
Mullins hit his 13th homer with two outs in the eighth, looping an opposite field fly ball that landed beyond the short wall down the left-field line on the first pitch he saw from Peoples.<\/p>\n
Texas threatened in the ninth after Nickey Lopez won two ABS challenges on third-strike calls to draw a leadoff walk. But Victor Mesa Jr. tracked down a line drive into the right-field corner to deny pinch-hitter Evan Carter of extra bases before Baker escaped with a strikeout of Ezequiel Duran to end the game with runners on first and second.<\/p>\n
The Rays went in front in the third on a two-out double by Hunter Feduccia followed by a single from Yandy Diaz.<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay starter McClanahan allowed the first two batters to reach in the fourth before getting pulled from the game because of back tightness<\/a>. After Duran took third on a fly ball, pinch-hitter Joc Pederson hit a ground ball up the middle that was fumbled by Taylor Walls, allowing Duran to score.<\/p>\n Wyatt Langford doubled in Alejandro Osuna from first base to put Texas in front in the fifth before DeLuca hit a 415-foot homer to left field in the sixth to tie the game.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Rangers: Open a series at Houston on Friday with RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 4.05 ERA) starting against Astros RHP Hunter Brown (2-1, 3.45).<\/p>\n Rays: Host the White Sox beginning Friday with RHP Nick Martinez (10-2, 2.45) starting against Chicago RHP Erick Fedde (5-6, 4.25).<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n