GLENDALE, Ariz. -- D-backs fifth-starter candidate Ryne Nelson had his second rocky outing in as many spring starts in Thursday's 5-5 tie with the Dodgers, allowing three runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings. But Arizona’s No. 8 prospect said he feels better than the numbers indicate.

“I thought I threw the ball well, just a couple walks hurt … fell behind some guys and found a couple barrels,” Nelson said. “I feel good about the way the ball is coming out right now.”

Nelson gave up a first-inning homer to lefty Freddie Freeman on a changeup. The 25-year-old righty said that’s not the pitch he’d use against a hitter like Freeman usually, but that doesn’t factor in his pitch selection during the spring.

“Sometimes my plan doesn’t line up with how to attack these hitters,” Nelson said. “Like Freeman, I probably shouldn’t have thrown that changeup in the zone, but I’m just trying to fill up the zone with all my pitches right now.”

Manager Torey Lovullo is confident Nelson will settle in as he gets more reps and more innings.

“I think he’s an easy bet to make some improvements and land his secondary stuff,” Lovullo said of Nelson, who has a 23.63 ERA with eight hits and four walks allowed through 2 2/3 Cactus League innings.

New spring facility paying off
The D-backs unveiled a state-of-the-art hitting and pitching lab at Salt River Fields this spring, and the facility is paying off during a camp that has had more inclement weather than usual.

Scottsdale got rain late Wednesday and into Thursday morning, but the D-backs were able to get their pregame work in indoors before they headed over to Glendale for their matchup vs. the Dodgers.

“We got after it as best we could,” Lovullo said. “We had infielders doing some different types of drills, hand work, which I thought was fantastic. It was stuff we were going to need to go over anyway, we just did it in close quarters.

“The hitters went in the lab. … Our ability to use our lab and use our facility really showed up for us today."

Camp notes
• Alek Thomas, who will soon leave D-backs camp to join Team Mexico for the World Baseball Classic, continued his strong spring on Thursday with two hits and three RBIs. The 22-year-old center fielder is hitting .385 with two doubles and five RBIs through four spring games.

• D-backs No. 1 prospect Corbin Carroll tripled off Dodgers righty Evan Phillips on Thursday. The 22-year-old is hitting .333 through four spring games.

• Zac Gallen threw a three-inning, 45-pitch simulated game on Thursday, and Lovullo indicated he could throw either three or four innings when he makes his Cactus League debut next week.