OAKLAND, Calif. Javier Baez Cubs 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. Cole Hamels Cubs Jersey . The Brewers finalized a US$36 million, three-year contract with free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Wednesday, adding a much-needed bat to their lineup. Manny Trillo Jersey . Canada will host the second stop on the circuit, the 2014 Skate Canada International in Kelowna, British Columbia from October 31 - November 2, 2014 at Prospera Place. https://www.cheapcubs.com/2330t-joe-pepitone-jersey-cubs.html . He just didnt expect them to be this good. Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points to lead No. 6 Villanova to a dominating 77-59 victory over Georgetown on Saturday, preserving the Wildcats hopes of a No.VANCOUVER -- Kelly Olynyk isnt upset that he wasnt invited to the NBA draft in New York. The Canadian college basketball star watched the proceedings on TV with 30-40 friends and family at his Kamloops, B.C., home as he was drafted 13th overall by the Dallas Mavericks and immediately traded -- as part of a pre-arranged deal -- to the Boston Celtics. "I was definitely thinking about going," Olynyk, 22, said Friday, a day after the festivities. "The NBA invites about 15 people, and I didnt end up getting invited. So I didnt end up going. But I think it worked out better that way. "It was really fun to spend it here, back in Kamloops, with friends and family and people who have supported me my whole life. It was really nice, and real special, to be able to enjoy that and see how overjoyed people were for me and how proud and happy they were for me." Olynyk added: "Its special. Being a little kid, its a dream. Its every kids dream after touching a basketball. Its another door thats opened, another journey in your life." The seven-foot forward is looking forward to joining the storied Celtics as they go through significant transition with Kevin Garnett and other stars likely to be traded. Coach Doc Rivers has already moved to the Los Angeles Clippers. "Itll be different," said Olynyk. "The franchise, I wouldnt say its rebuilding, but its definitely remodelling. Itll be interesting to see how everything pans out. "Hopefully, it creates an opportunity for me. I just have to go in there and make the most of my opportunity." Olynyks selection in the draft came after he made the difficult decision to red-shirt in his third year of collegiate eligibility with the Gonzaga Bulldogs. In most cases, first-year players red-shirt to prepare for the college game. But, after receiving limited playing time as a sophomore, he sat out a season to develop physically while also working on his skills. That time spent honing his abilities helped Olynyk improve his game greatly and he became Gonzagas team leader after another Canadian, Robert Sacre of North Vancouver, B.C., had moved on to the NBAs Los Angeles Lakers. "It was tough becausee, as a player, you always want to play," said Olynyk. Rowan Wick Jersey. "And its tough sometimes just watching (games), because youre not able to be out there helping your team. ... It was definitely really good for me learning a new step and really good for my development. "It allowed me to really work on my body and work on my game and really excel and take those things to the next level. I think it was vital in my development and my success this year. I definitely developed more of an inside game, which is huge. I didnt have a very versatile inside game." Olynyk averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 63 per cent from the field as Gonzaga earned the No. 1 NCAA ranking late in the season, marking the first time the small Spokane, Wash., university had achieved the mark. He was also thrilled to be part of an NBA draft where University of Nevada-Las Vegas freshman Anthony Bennett, a Brampton, Ont., native, became the first Canadian to be selected No. 1 overall. The Cleveland Cavaliers surprise choice of Bennett came a year before Thornhill, Ont., native Andrew Wigginss anticipated first overall selection. "Its huge," Olynyk said of Bennetts selection. "Its an unbelievable accomplishment for Canada and Canadian basketball, especially with it never being done before. I cant be happier for him. "Hopefully, I get a chance to play with him in the national team or something along those lines. Hopefully, we can repeat it next year with Wiggins. ... I think (basketball in) Canada is still on the rise. Theres a lot of younger kids coming up who have a lot of potential and could (have) the same opportunity." Olynyk, who was born in Toronto, got weaned on hoops in the 1990s while his father Ken coached the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and Canadian junior mens national team while also serving as a visiting coach with the NBAs Raptors for a season. The family moved to Kamloops when Kelly was 12. He hopes to help Canada qualify this summer for next years world championships and then advance to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. "If I have an opportunity to play with the national team, Id love to," he said. ' ' '