Two victories in three games against an Angels team with a losing record isn’t enough to say the Rays are back to their winning ways, but they at least seem headed in the right direction.

Wednesday’s tense 5-4 victory over the Angels was their second straight, giving them their first back-to-back wins — and series win — since beating Baltimore in the first post-All-Star break action (July 18-20).

Doing it away from home was even more significant — their first back-to-back victories and series wins since the June 24-26 sweep in Kansas City, which was the end of their majors-best 25-9 run.

The Rays improved to 57-59 and moved within 4 1/2 games of the third American League wild-card spot.

“It’s important,” Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. “E

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