ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Should the Texas Rangers somehow bail themselves out of the midseason hole they've dug, manager Johnny Oates will look back fondly at Sunday night's victory over Tampa Bay.

The Rangers gave up a grand slam and were down by four, then rallied with eight consecutive runs -- three driven in by Rafael Palmeiro -- to beat the Devil Rays 9-5.

	Palmeiro

"When you're playing the way we have lately and you get down late in the ballgame and your opening-day starter gives up a grand slam, you can just fold it up and wait to start another one," Oates said. "But they came right back. I'm proud of the way the guys played."

Jose Guillen's grand slam in the top of the sixth put Tampa Bay ahead 5-1. Texas answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning, benefiting from breakdowns by Albie Lopez (4-5) and the left side of the Devil Rays' infield.

Five straight hits and errors by shortstop Felix Martinez and third baseman Bobby Smith helped the Rangers tie the game at 5 and put runners at first and third. Palmeiro drove them both in with a drive to the wall in left-center field.

Palmeiro, who only had one extra-base hit in his previous 12 games, had another RBI double in the eighth and scored on David Segui's fourth hit of the night, which tied his career best.

Rusty Greer set a Texas record by getting multiple hits in his eighth straight game, and rookie Mike Lamb had three hits.

But it was Palmeiro's clutch hitting that pleased Oates most.

"We need him and Pudge, those two All-Stars in the middle of our lineup, to carry the load," Oates said.

Kenny Rogers (7-5) gave up five runs and nine hits in seven innings to win his fourth straight decision.

He got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second inning by allowing only one run, then didn't permit a runner past first base until Tampa Bay loaded the bases again in the sixth. This time, Guillen hit his second career grand slam. It was his seventh homer of the year, fifth in 11 games.

"After the home run, I thought we had a good chance," Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild said. "It didn't turn out that way."

Rogers got a reprieve when his offense rallied in the bottom of the inning. He returned to the mound to get three more outs, then Esteban Loaiza pitched the last two innings for his first career save.

"They did their job getting me the runs. My job was not to give up any more," said Rogers, who might start on three days' rest Thursday against the A's.

Oates decided to make Loaiza his closer for the night because John Wetteland was suffering back spasms. He underwent treatment for about four hours at The Ballpark, then Oates sent him home during the first inning.

"We just want to make sure he's ready for Tuesday," Oates said.

Lopez, 2-0 with a 3.19 ERA since moving into the rotation five starts ago, pitched much better than indicated by his line: 5 2/3 innings, 11 hits and seven runs, four earned.

Lopez allowed only an RBI single by Segui in the first five innings before the blowup in the sixth, when he gave up six hits.

"That's what happens sometimes," Lopez said. "I was just trying to throw strikes."

Game notes
Rangers 2B Luis Alicea left after two innings with tightness in his lower back. ... Tampa Bay pitcher Juan Guzman will undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his sore right shoulder. He's made only one start since signing a two-year, $12.5 million contract in January. ... Loiaza made his first relief outing since July 19, ending a streak of 28 straight starts. ... Ivan Rodriguez ended a 27-game hitting streak against the Devil Rays. ... Tampa Bay's Quinton McCracken grounded into two double plays.