OAKLAND, Calif. Doug McDermott Pacers Jersey . -- Yoenis Cespedes is gone to Boston and the Oakland Athletics are slumping without their former slugger. Josh Reddick is a bright spot in the lineup and continues a recent tear, getting a two-run double in the ninth inning of a 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday that cost the AL West leaders a sweep. "We couldnt get anything going. Our lineup continues to struggle," Reddick said. "We know we have a good lineup with or without Cespedes. We miss him. Someone has to step up. We havent done that yet. We have to keep grinding." The As acquired ace Jon Lester in last Thursdays trade deadline deal that sent Cespedes out of town, and the pitcher starts again Thursday. The Rays handed reigning AL Pitcher of the Month Sonny Gray (12-5) his second straight defeat following a 5-0 July in which he had a 1.03 ERA. This is the second time Gray has lost consecutive outings in his first full major league season, also to Baltimore and the Yankees on June 7 and 13. "When you put your team in a hole like that, youre putting a lot of pressure on the offence," said Gray, tagged for a career-high 10 hits. "Thats tough to climb out of." Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer to help Jeremy Hellickson end a six-start winless stretch for his first victory in 11 months. Hellickson (1-1) allowed two hits and one run in seven innings, struck out three and walked none. He hadnt reached five innings in any of his previous three starts this year or in five outings dating to the end of the 2013 season. The 2011 AL Rookie of the Year returned late last month following rehab for the January elbow operation. Kiermaiers first-pitch homer in the fourth was just the ninth surrendered this year by Gray, who came into Wednesday with a 1-0 record and 0.61 ERA in two career starts against the Rays. Hellickson retired the first nine As hitters in order before Coco Crisps leadoff single in the fourth, then the right-hander recorded seven more outs in a row. "That looked like the Rookie of the Year Hellickson," manager Joe Maddon said. "My thought is now that hes done it once he can really take off." Eric Sogard broke that up with a sixth-inning homer, snapping a career-high 110-game homerless streak dating to July 21, 2013. Josh Reddick added a two-run double in the ninth off former As closer Grant Balfour. Gray plunked Kiermaier in the fifth to load the bases and Desmond Jennings followed with a two-run single to chase the right-hander after a season-low 4 1-3 innings. Jesse Chavez, moved to the bullpen when Lester arrived, worked 3 2-3 innings. Oaklands No. 3-4 hitters of Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss went a combined 1 for 7. "Weve seen a stretch where we scored double-digit runs," manager Bob Melvin said. "Were not doing that right now. Were not getting consistent at bats like weve been getting." MOSS FUNK Moss is mired in an 0-for-17 funk that matches the longest hitless streak of his career, also done in September 2010. "If we keep getting guys on base, were going to do what we do," Reddick said. "Weve got to get out of our rut." COLISEUM LEASE The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority approved the Athletics 10-year lease deal that keeps the club in Oakland for now -- a formality in the deal reached last month. TRAINERS ROOM Rays: Catcher Jose Molina took a foul tip on his right arm in the third but stayed in the game. Athletics: Melvin said shortstop Jed Lowrie could be back from a bruised right index finger for Thursdays series opener with the Twins. UP NEXT Rays: After an off-day in Chicago, RHP Chris Archer (7-6, 3.42 ERA) pitches Fridays opener of a weekend series at Wrigley Field to close out interleague play. Athletics: LHP Lester (11-7, 2.59) is 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA over nine starts since a June 7 loss at Detroit. Reggie Miller Jersey . HABS HEADED TO CONFERENCE FINAL The Montreal Canadiens scored early in Game Seven, built a lead and protected it well on their way to a 3-1 series-clinching win over the Boston Bruins. While this game or series isnt necessarily a referendum on the value of fourth lines, the Canadiens certainly benefitted from production lower down their forward depth chart. Mark Jackson Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. http://www.authenticbasketballshoppacers.info/customized/ .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana.NFL owners will be briefed Wednesday on potential changes to the leagues personal conduct policy.The owners are gathering in Irving, Texas, for their final scheduled meeting before the end of the season. The main subject on the agenda is the conduct policy, which is being revamped in the wake of the cases involving Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson.Among the considerations would be allowing for a neutral arbitrator to rule on player discipline, but for Commissioner Roger Goodell or someone he appoints to handle any appeals. That has been a sticking point with the players union, which wants Goodell removed entirely from the process.Goodells role in personal conduct discipline exists as part of the collective bargaining agreement reached between the league and union in 2011.The NFLPA wants any changes to the personal conduct policy to be bargained, and called any meetings between the union and the league a farce.Last month, an arbitrator threw out Rices indefinite suspension by the NFL for hitting his then-fiancee and now wife Janay in a hotel elevator, freeing him to play again.Former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones said Goodells decision in September to change Rices original suspension from two games to indefinite was arbitrary and an abuse of discretion.After noting the two-game suspension given to Rice was insufficient, Goodell had changed the minimum punishment under the personal conduct policy to six games. Then a video of the Baltimore Ravens running back punching Janay became public, Rice was released by the Ravens and Goodell suspended him indefinitely.Rice and the unioon contended he was essentially sentenced twice, and Jones agreed, saying Rice did not lie to or mislead the NFL. Myles Turner Jersey. Petersons appeal of a league suspension lasting until next April 15 was heard by Harold Henderson last week. Henderson, a former NFL executive, was appointed by Goodell to rule on the appeal and is expected to do so soon.Peterson is seeking reinstatement, something Goodell told Peterson he will not be considering before April 15.The 2012 NFL MVP hasnt played for the Minnesota Vikings since Week 1 after he was charged with child abuse in Texas. He was placed on paid leave while the legal process played out, and he pleaded no contest Nov. 4 to misdemeanour reckless assault for injuring his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch.We reiterate it is a bad process and weve got to figure out a way to get out of a bad process, NFLPA President Eric Winston said on a conference call Tuesday.The league responded earlier this month to the unions demand for negotiations on the conduct policy with a letter from NFL general counsel Jeff Pash. He wrote that the NFL is prepared to discuss modifying the CBA section regarding discipline to provide that the initial disciplinary decision would be made by someone other than the commissioner or his designee. We would be prepared to consult with the NFLPA on the identity of such a disciplinary officer.But Winston said there is really nothing on the table; the proverbial table does not exist.___AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this story.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '