MLB: Tampa Bay 7, Texas 6

ARLINGTON, Texas, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Fernando Perez drove in the game-winning run Sunday with a suicide squeeze bunt, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-6 win over Texas.

The bunt knocked in Evan Longoria with one out in the top of the ninth. Ben Zobrist led Tampa Bay with two hits, both two-run singles, giving him four RBI.

Carl Crawford had three hits and one RBI, and Jason Bartlett had two hits for the Rays, who have split their last six games.

The winner was reliever Randy Choate (1-0).

Lance Cormier earned his second save.

Nelson Cruz led Texas with two hits -- one a two-run homer. Marlon Byrd hit a solo homer, while Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus had one RBI apiece for the Rangers, who scratched out seven hits and fell six games back of the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels.

The Rangers' loss, combined with the Angels' win over Oakland Sunday, reduced LA's magic number for clinching the division to two -- as the Rangers travel to Anaheim for a four-game series with the Angeles beginning Monday.

The Rangers trail Boston by six games in the AL wild-card chase.

The losing pitcher was Frank Francisco (2-3).