'Good things to build on' in Gallen's 2nd start

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Zac Gallen is his own toughest critic, but even the right-hander had to agree that he pitched well on Saturday in a 7-6 loss to the Rangers at Salt River Fields.

Gallen, making his second start of the spring, allowed one hit and a walk while striking out three over three scoreless innings. He threw 46 pitches, 31 for strikes.

"I felt a lot better than then the previous outing," Gallen said. "Felt under control, felt like I had command of all four or five pitches. Still just knocking the rust off though, but good things to build on."

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In his first outing of the spring, Gallen did not allow a run over two innings, but he did allow two hits and walked a pair.

"I really put in a considerable amount of work the last few days, on my curveball, on my changeup, just trying to get a consistent feel," Gallen said. "So I felt really good about those today. I was pretty happy being able to repeat those, and just have a little bit better feel as the game went on."

Soria debut coming
Right-hander Joakim Soria, whom the team signed not long before camp opened, will make his debut for the D-backs on Sunday afternoon against the Cubs at Salt River Fields.

Soria is expected to be the D-backs' closer, though the team has said he is competing against Stefan Crichton for the role.

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Merrill Kelly will start against the Cubs with Josh Green, Chris Devenski, Kevin Ginkel and Humberto Castellanos also slated to pitch.

Jake Arrieta will make his first Cactus League start of the spring for the Cubs.

Getting antsy
Outfielder Tim Locastro, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, according to D-backs manager Torey Lovullo, is itching to get back to work at the ballpark.

Lovullo talked recently with Locastro, who told his manager that, to keep busy, he tried to crank out 1,500 pushups in one day, but came up short at 300.

"He assured me that, when he gets back here, he wants to be put in the game and he's ready to play nine innings," Lovullo said. "That's his mindset. With Tim, we know what his motor is like, but we got to be mindful that he's been sitting around, laying around, improving and getting strong through this COVID situation, and we got to be smart and we will."