Gallen stingy in impressive D-backs debut

PHOENIX -- Zac Gallen made quite an impression on his new D-backs teammates, as the right-hander debuted with five scoreless innings in Arizona’s 6-1 win over the Phillies on Wednesday night at Chase Field.

“Zac pitched fantastic tonight,” shortstop Nick Ahmed said. “We’re happy to have him.”

The D-backs captured the three-game series with the Phillies and moved above the .500 mark, at 58-57, and more important, they crept to within 1 1/2 games of the second National League Wild Card spot.

• Box score

The D-backs acquired Gallen from the Marlins at the Trade Deadline and had to like what they saw from the rookie one week later, as he allowed just one hit while walking three and striking out six. He also picked up an RBI with a squeeze bunt.

It had been a little while since D-backs catcher Carson Kelly had seen Gallen in action up close. The pair came up together in the Cardinals’ system and were briefly roommates while playing for Triple-A Memphis.

“Very similar stuff to what I saw in Memphis,” Kelly said. “I think everything has been a little bit sharper, actually, since the last time I caught him. He developed that changeup a little bit more. But overall, same guy. Likes to attack, likes to come right at you and I think that really helped him out today.”

Much has been made about Gallen’s cut fastball, but his changeup is getting close to surpassing it, if it hasn’t already.

“Yeah, it was huge,” Gallen said of the changeup. “You know it’s kind of been the biggest pitch for me lately. It’s kind of helped me turn over some lineups a couple of times. So, you know, just trying to build off that pitch being successful.”

Kelly likes the late movement down that Gallen’s changeup has, and the fact that he’s able to keep the same arm action and release point as he does with his fastball makes it challenging for hitters to recognize it until it’s too late.

Gallen seemed to have a little extra heat on his fastball in the first inning, due to the adrenaline rush that comes from making his debut with a new team.

“I don’t get necessarily nervous when I pitch,” the 24-year-old said. “I used to get nervous when I was younger, when I played the field. But when you pitch, you’re kind of in control most of the game, for the most part. I really didn’t feel any nerves. I was definitely a little amped up to go out there, you know, make a good first impression. It was nice.”

The win capped an impressive homestand for the D-backs, who took two of three games from the Nationals and Phillies, two teams they’re chasing in the Wild Card race.

Despite dealing their ace, Zack Greinke, on Trade Deadline day a week ago, the D-backs are convinced that they can compete this season because of the additions of Gallen and veteran right-hander Mike Leake.

D-backs general manager Mike Hazen wanted to make sure the players understood the team’s Deadline moves, so he held a brief team meeting on the first day of the homestand to explain why he made them. He also told them that he could have dealt more players, but the organization still believes that the current core can make the postseason this year.

“We’re behind you, we’re supporting you, we’re making moves, we’re doing things to better this team and better this organization,” Kelly said of what he took from Hazen’s talk. “That gives you that little boost. I think a lot of guys in this room are excited about that. We’re 1 1/2 [games] back and anything can happen. There’s a lot of games left and we’ve shown that all year -- we’re just never going to give up.”