RHP Zack Godley pitched probably his best game of the year Thursday, blanking St. Louis over seven innings to earn his fourth win against four losses. Godley had late life on almost all of his 105 pitches, permitting just four hits and two walks while fanning seven. His breaking ball was particularly sharp, as he obtained a number of strikeouts off it. He collected a dozen outs off grounders.

LHP Jon Lester (8-6) picked up his third victory in as many starts with an impressive performance Thursday night against the White Sox. Lester limited the Cubs' crosstown rivals to two runs on four hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out four as his ERA dropped to 3.88.

LHP Robbie Ray will get the start Friday night when Arizona plays Game 2 of its four-game weekend set in St. Louis. Ray is coming off a 6-2 loss Sunday at home to Washington. He allowed six hits and five runs -- four earned -- in five innings, with two walks and four strikeouts. He has pitched twice in his career against the Cardinals, losing both outings with a 7.88 ERA.

OF Yasmany Tomas (right groin tendinitis) was transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL to make room for C John Ryan Murphy on the 40-man roster. Tomas was batting .241 with eight homers and 32 RBIs in 47 games when he went on the shelf June 6. The earliest Tomas can return now is Aug. 3; and, with the acquisition of J.D. Martinez, it's unlikely he'd play every day.

RHP Luke Weaver was recalled from Triple-A Memphis and started Thursday night against Arizona. Weaver ran into fourth-inning trouble as he tried to be too fine after allowing a leadoff double to A.J. Pollock, issuing consecutive walks that led to J.D. Martinez's game-deciding grand slam. Weaver finished five innings, permitting five hits and four runs, walking two and striking out five.

RHP Michael Wacha will get the call Friday night when St. Louis continues its four-game series with Arizona in Busch Stadium. Wacha is coming off a 5-3 loss Sunday night at the Chicago Cubs in which he displayed excellent stuff, fanning six in six innings, but was victimized by two homers. In four career starts against the Diamondbacks, he's 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA.

RF Stephen Piscotty (right groin strain) started a rehab assignment Thursday night at Class A Peoria, going 0-for-3 before leaving the game in the fifth inning. Piscotty landed on the 10-day DL July 15 after leaving a game the night before in Pittsburgh. The plan is for Piscotty to play four or five games at Peoria and then join the team next week in Milwaukee.

LHP Dan Jennings was active for Thursday's game after being obtained from the Chicago White Sox. He gave up two singles without recording an out in the eighth inning. "Excited. We knew we needed that lefty to help us," said GM Kevin Cash, who said Jennings will have varied roles. Jennings is not a rental as he is under team control through the 2019 season and arbitration-eligible. Jennings recorded a 3.45 ERA in 48 appearances for the White Sox this season. He also held left-handed hitters to a .169 average (12-for-71).

RHP Diego Moreno was designated for assignment Thursday to clear room for newly acquired LHP Dan Jennings on Tampa Bay's 40-man roster. Moreno was activated from the 60-day disabled list following after Wednesday's game with Baltimore and optioned to Triple-A Durham. Before missing about two months with shoulder bursitis, Moreno was 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA in five appearances.

OF Kevin Kiermaier (fractured right hip) began a rehab assignment Thursday with Class A Charlotte of the Florida State League and went 1-for-2 while playing four innings in the field. Kiermaier has missed 41 games since getting hurt sliding into first base June 8.

OF/1B Lucas Duda was acquired Thursday from the New York Mets. Reports began circulating about the trade late Thursday afternoon and the Rays announced the deal about an hour before the first pitch. Duda will likely become the team's DH, with Corey Dickerson going to left field. Duda, who began his career with the Mets in 2010, is hitting .246 with 17 homers and 37 RBIs in 75 games in his final year before reaching free agency for the first time.

RHP Chris Archer recorded his 25th career double-digit strikeout game and seventh this season when he fanned 10 Thursday in New York. His most notable strikeout was against 3B Todd Frazier, all on sliders with the bases loaded in the sixth. Archer did not get the win because the Rays blew the game. He has one win in his last 10 starts against the Yankees.

OF Shane Peterson was designated for assignment to clear room on the 25-man roster for LHP Dan Jennings and the 40-man roster for OF Lucas Duda, who will join the Rays on Friday following his trade from the New York Mets. Peterson had batted .244 with one homer and five RBIs since starting his second stint with the team.

OF Jacoby Ellsbury started for the second straight game and was 1-for-2 with a walk. Ellsbury started Thursday because he entered the game batting .500 (20-for-40) vs. RHP Chris Archer. Ellsbury has become the fourth outfielder recently with the emergence of Clint Frazier, but manager Joe Girardi said the veteran has handled it well.

LF Brett Gardner hit his third career walk-off homer when he opened the 11th by homering off RHP Andrew Kittredge. Gardner's other walk-off homers came April 23, 2016, against Tampa Bay RHP Erasmo Ramirez and Aug. 11, 2013, against Detroit RHP Jose Veras. He also set a career best with his 18th homer, and the Yankees are 15-0 when Gardner homers.

DH Matt Holliday was not in the starting lineup for Thursday's game and there is some concern his strength has yet to completely return after he missed 14 games with a viral infection. Since returning, he is 7-for-53 (.132) with 15 strikeouts. "He just really hasn't gotten back on track," manager Joe Girardi said. "I think he will. It just hasn't happened."

LHP CC Sabathia became the 20th player to get at least 2,800 strikeouts when he capped an 11-pitch at-bat with 2B Tim Beckham by striking him out. Sabathia lasted only 4 1/3 innings because, after striking out Beckham, he allowed the next three hitters to reach ahead of Evan Longoria, who singled and homered off him. Sabathia was charged with four runs when RHP Chad Green allowed a two-run double to PH Brad Miller.

OF Aaron Hicks (strained right oblique) is expected to take batting practice on the field sometime this weekend. Manager Joe Girardi said Hicks would likely start a rehab assignment when the team begins its next road trip on Aug. 4. The switch-hitter who has played each outfield position has been on the DL since June 25, and Girardi said it's hard to say when he will return because he would need at-bats from both sides of the plate.

SS Zack Cozart (right quad) missed his second straight start. He leads all NL shortstops in batting average, on-base and slugging percentage. He is proving that his All-Star berth this year was well-deserved.

RHP Vance Worley (0-2, 6.37 ERA) will start against the Reds on Friday. He has made 12 appearances this season, including four starts. He has a decent career line against the Reds, last facing them in 2015. In seven career appearances against Cincinnati -- including five starts -- he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. A 29-year-old California native, Worley is the definition of a journeyman pitcher with a 33-32 career record.