ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Texas Rangers manager Johnny Oates threw up his hands when he was asked about Ivan Rodriguez.

He simply can't think of any more ways to praise the All-Star catcher.

	Ivan Rodriguez, right, who hit a game-deciding three-run homer, steals second after beating the tag from Tampa Bay's Kevin Stocker.

Rodriguez's three-run homer in the seventh inning led Texas to a 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Monday night.

"I've run out of superlatives to describe him," Oates said. "I've managed a lot of great players, but as far as the tools he has -- it would be hard to think of someone better."

Darren Oliver (1-2) allowed four runs, five hits, struck out four and walked two in seven strong innings for his first win in eight starts this season.

"Darren pitched like he has in three or four starts this year. Ollie was deceptive tonight," Oates said. "He threw a lot of pitches faster than I think people thought."

John Wetteland pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save.

Jose Canseco, Jose Guillen and Gerald Williams homered for the Devil Rays, who have lost eight straight against left-handed starters.

Canseco's two-run homer tied it 3-3 in the top of the seventh, but the Rangers scored three times in the bottom of the inning.

Luis Alicea singled and Chad Curtis walked off Tampa Bay reliever Rick White (1-3) in the bottom of the eighth, and Rodriguez homered to center field to make it 6-3.

White allowed three runs and two hits in one inning of relief.

Oliver left after giving up Guillen's leadoff homer in the eighth and had to watch as Tampa Bay pulled within a run after Jeff Zimmerman walked Quinton McCracken and Greg Vaughn. Fred McGriff singled off Mike Venafro to drive them in.

Tim Crabtree, Texas' fourth pitcher of the inning, walked Canseco to load the bases. But Crabtree got out of the inning by getting Vinny Castilla to ground out.

"We played well, but came up short," Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild said. "The object of the game is to win, and we've come up short a lot lately. These games need to start becoming wins and not losses."

Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead on Gerald Williams' homer to lead off the game. Miguel Cairo followed with a double and went to third on a groundout, but Jason McDonald threw Miguel out at home for an inning-ending double play after fielding McGriff's fly to shallow right.

With the help of a double play, Oliver retired 15 of the next 16, allowing only two runners -- on a single and a walk.

But Vaughn led off the Tampa Bay seventh with a walk and Canseco's homer to right tied it.

Royce Clayton's RBI single gave Texas a 1-1 tie in the second, and his two-run homer put the Rangers up 3-1 in the fourth. Clayton's homer, his eighth of the season and third in four games, came after Devil Rays starter Dave Eiland hit leadoff hitter Mike Lamb.

"I wasn't sharp the first three or four innings," Eiland said. "I'm not going to blame it on anything. I battled through it, and the last couple of innings I felt pretty good. I don't get behind Clayton and throw him the lazy slider, we win the game."

Eiland allowed three runs in seven innings, walked two and struck out one.

Game notes
Canseco's homer was his 39th against Texas, second to Reggie Jackson's 45. ... Rodriguez's homer gave him 11 hits in his last 23 at-bats. ... Oliver was one of five AL starters with at least five starts without a win. ... Wetteland's save was his 302nd, moving him into a tie with Doug Jones for 10th on the career list, two behind Jeff Montgomery. ... Rusty Greer was 0-for-5 for Tulsa in a Texas League rehab appearance Monday night as a designated hitter. He'll play in the outfield for Tulsa on Tuesday night, work out with the Rangers on Wednesday, and will possibly be activated Thursday.