Brandon Guyer has big game in loss for Rays

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays RF Brandon Guyer drove in a career-high five runs Sunday with a career-high two home runs and a sacrifice fly in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the A's.

His day began with a leadoff home run in the first inning and continued with a three-run homer in the second. His five RBIs tied the team record by a leadoff hitter set June 6, 2010 by John Jaso at Texas.

"It's just consistent playing time," Guyer said. "Seeing pitches from righties and lefties."

Guyer, who has assumed the leadoff spot with 2B Logan Forsythe on the disabled list, is batting .397 with four home runs and 11 RBI in his past 18 games.

Another short day for Moore: LHP Matt Moore failed to pitch more than five innings for his third straight start, leaving the game after five innings.

He allowed seven hits and four runs, including the first two of Danny Valencia's three home runs.

"Incomplete," Moore said of his 78-pitch outing. "I felt like I had a lot of work still to go."

Manager Kevin Cash said he pulled Moore because he wanted to get RHP Erasmo Ramirez in the game. Moore had allowed a two-out, two-run homer to Valencia in the fifth that made it a one-run game.

Moore has a 6.50 ERA over his past five starts.

Valencia owns Rays: Valencia dove in five runs with his three home runs. He had five home runs and seven RBIs during the three-game series. Those were his first five home runs of the season. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is batting .410 during that stretch.

"I felt pretty good this whole series," he said. "I got some good pitches to hit and didn't miss them."

Motter dressed for success: Utility player Taylor Motter received his first big-league callup and will replace Forsythe on the roster. 1B Logan Morrison greeted him before Sunday's game with a bright orange suit he had made during spring training for Motter. It was a takeoff on the movie Dumb and Dumber, and the matching orange shirt included the monogram "Lloyd," for the Lloyd Christmas character played by actor Jim Carrey.

"He's going to play a big role," Cash said. "Knowing Taylor has the ability to play short, I think we're comfortable putting him anywhere on the field. I think he's going to bring a ton of energy like we saw in spring training. He's pumped, and I know the clubhouse is pumped to see him."

Balfour returns: Recently retired Grant Balfour, who played for both the Rays and A's, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

"Kind of a little overwhelming, I guess. It feels weird, I'm not going to lie because I never done it before," the former reliever said. "I show up to the baseball park, (it) is something I did every day. I'm used to it. To come out and so something like this, a lot of people say they were more nervous throwing out the first pitch than they were pitching in front of 50,000 people. That's true, I guess."

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Boxberger update: RHP Brad Boxberger threw 24 pitches in one inning Sunday during the first outing of his minor-league rehabilitation assignment. He allowed one hit, one walk and struck out one. He told the Charlotte Sun Herald he will pitch one more time for Class A Charlotte, then head to Triple-A Durham.