Joyce's second dinger00:00:31
6/29/14: Matt Joyce cranks a two-run shot off Brian Matusz for his second home run of the game to give the Rays a 12-4 lead in the 7th
Matt Joyce's big day for the Rays was one of historic proportions.
The Rays outfielder went 5-for-6 on Sunday with two homers, two singles and a double to help lift Tampa Bay to a 12-7 victory against the Orioles. His numbers helped him into the Rays' record book.
"You really don't have very many days like that, so it's nice to have one of those days and enjoy it," Joyce said.
Joyce matched a Rays single-game record with five hits, becoming the fifth player in team history -- and the first since B.J. Upton in 2009 -- to do so. He also became the third player in team history and the first since Evan Longoria in '08 to tally 12 total bases, also a team record for a single game.
Joyces's home run in the third inning ended a drought of 124 at-bats without a homer.
"It comes and goes. Home runs are funny. When you try to hit them, it never seems to happen, and you finally get it out of your head and you're just trying to square the ball up and you run into some. And they come in bunches, so hopefully they come in a little bit more bunches."
Vying for a rare six-hit game and a triple shy of the second cycle in team history, Joyce grounded the first pitch he saw in the ninth to shortstop Ryan Flaherty to end the inning and his historic day.
The Rays tallied their 12 runs on 18 hits, including five home runs and six doubles.
"We haven't had anything like that all year, so it was nice to come out here in a big series and swing the bats like we did," Joyce said.