SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Mar. 18) \u2014 Wind was the theme of Saturday in camp for the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> before their Cactus League bout with the Cleveland Guardians<\/a>. Manager Torey Lovullo<\/a><\/strong> and his coaching staff took advantage of the blustery conditions to have defensive drills in the wind. Zac Gallen<\/a><\/strong> had four sound innings before a rough fifth, although he was trying new things out more than anything else. Two big righties thumped a home run each. Gabriel Moreno<\/a><\/strong> took a fastball off the hand that made observers nervous. And Gallen was called for a balk but was confused by the reason.<\/p>\n Outfielder Jake McCarthy<\/a><\/strong>, out with flu-like symptoms, is feeling better and should be back in camp Sunday. Whether he plays \u201cwill be determined when he walks in the building\u201d on Sunday, according to Lovullo.<\/p>\n First baseman Christian Walker<\/a><\/strong> recovered from his bruised hip and played in the game, launching a no-doubt homer into the left-field berm in the bottom of the second. Third baseman Evan Longoria<\/a><\/strong> also belted a homer, a two-run shot to left-center in the bottom of the third. Both clouts came off Guardians righty Cal Quantrill<\/a><\/strong>, recently returned from national team duty with Canada in the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n A fastball struck catcher Gabriel Moreno on the hand during the bottom of the fifth inning. He told reporters after the game that he is okay and believes he \u201cdodged a bullet.\u201d Lovullo agreed and added that there were no x-rays planned. Moreno will be day-to-day.<\/p>\n Right fielder Yairo Munoz<\/a><\/strong> left the game with a right calf strain. He will be reassessed Sunday morning, with Lovullo saying there will be \u201cpossible imaging.\u201d<\/p>\n A few players have had scheduled off-days thrown into their progression toward being ready to play. This camp, which is one week longer than normal due to the World Baseball Classic, has been a particularly demanding camp, according to some of the staff. Consequently, the medical staff has been scheduling these off-days.<\/p>\n When asked what factors are going into the camp being particularly grueling, Lovullo replied, \u201cProbably the volume. We\u2019ve got a lot of content, a lot of things we need to get to. And it just takes time to have discussions. There are a lot of meetings, some standing around, explanations. Dress rehearsals for pitchers, then everybody comes together. We just go over a lot of information. And those are the small details that I love about this game. These are the small details I think this team does very well. And it shows up. We end up doing a lot of things right when they\u2019re needed. So we put a bunch in our backpack and pull them out when it’s needed.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked if another factor is this being the first full-blown camp in four years, Lovullo responded, \u201cA little bit. We’ve probably gotten through a little bit more over the course of this time. We had the extra week because of the WBC, so we took advantage of that. But yeah, it’s kind of getting back in. For three years, we had been challenged with timing and couldn’t get to these guys. So we’re getting after it probably because we’re back into that that original version of spring training.\u201d<\/p>\n Zac Gallen pitched 4 2\/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits while walking two, hitting one, and striking out five. He only gave up one run across the first four innings before the outing went \u201cwacky\u201d in the fifth. Gallen told reporters the \u201cball felt like it was coming out of my hand decently\u201d in the first four. \u201cI was having trouble with the cutter, but everything else \u2014 slider, changeup curveball \u2014 felt pretty good,\u201d he said. In the fifth, \u201cwalk, a couple of stolen bases \u2014 ball didn\u2019t feel like it was coming out great, like I was losing a little bit of life. But the first four innings felt like everything I’ve worked on, the delivery and everything this week, showed up in the first four innings. So I’m not really too mad about it.\u201d<\/p>\n In some videos, Gallen noticed that recently he was \u201cflying open a little bit\u201d and not keeping his ribs down. When asked if he\u2019s sort of \u201cworking on everything\u201d at this point in the spring, he confirmed. He added, \u201cI’m always working on something. But right now, it’s just getting a feel for those pitches in the game. I’d say there was probably a good amount of scenarios today where I probably threw pitches that I wouldn’t normally throw in counts and scenarios. Maybe a lot more changeups in situations I wouldn’t throw them in, maybe sliders.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I just want to get a feel for that and get used to either playing that first strike or swing-and-miss. Try not to rely on the same pitches. A lot of cutters today just because I wanted to get the feel for that. I\u2019m working on stuff, but at the same time competing and still trying to get outs.\u201d<\/p>\n Gallen was called for a balk in the fifth. \u201cIt\u2019s the same pickoff I\u2019ve been doing for years. Never got called for it.\u201d He still didn\u2019t know what he did when he spoke to reporters. \u201cI thought they said my knee buckled. Then Walker said the first base umpire told him it was because I didn\u2019t gain ground. I don\u2019t know. Never got a full answer.\u201d<\/p>\n Gallen feels there\u2019s \u201ca lot of grey area with the rules.\u201d He likened the pitch clock to the shot clock in basketball, where if the clock expires before the ball leaves a player\u2019s hand and either goes in or hits the rim, it\u2019s a violation without exception. \u201cIt should be black and white,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone\u2019s learning at the same time, but there\u2019s a lot of grey area. The season is getting very close. That\u2019s the last thing you want, some sort of grey-area violation to ruin a big spot in the game. So I hope we get it sorted out.\u201d<\/p>\n Lovullo told reporters postgame that Gallen \u201cthrew the ball extremely well,\u201d saying he was \u201caggressive with his fastball, ahead in a lot of counts, and had a good mixture of all pitches.\u201d He said the team had \u201ca little hiccup\u201d in the fifth, playing in a \u201csloppy fashion.\u201d Specifically, Lovullo pointed out the stolen bases, saying the team needed to do a better job holding runners on. \u201cWe don\u2019t like stolen bases. A free 90 feet are not part of our game plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin Ginkel<\/a><\/strong>, Ryan Hendrix<\/a><\/strong>, Jeurys Familia<\/a><\/strong>, and Miguel Castro<\/a><\/strong> all pitched scoreless relief. Ginkel threw 1 1\/3 innings, while everyone else tossed an inning. Lovullo praised their efforts, saying they \u201cdid a good job and gave us a chance to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n The Diamondbacks will continue Cactus League play Sunday afternoon. They will face the Kansas City Royals at Salt River Fields. Lefty Tommy Henry<\/a><\/strong> will take the mound for the Diamondbacks against right-hander and future Hall of Famer Zack Greinke<\/a><\/strong>. First pitch will be at 1:10 pm.<\/p>\nInjury Updates<\/h3>\n
Particularly Demanding Camp<\/h4>\n
Zac Gallen Performance<\/h3>\n
Balk\u2026Yet He Still Doesn\u2019t Know What He Did<\/h4>\n
Torey Lovullo Postgame<\/h3>\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n
Main Photo:<\/h4>\n