PHOENIX (Interstat) — Michael Soroka pitched the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field, snapping a two-game skid. Soroka improved to 8-3, allowing one run on three hits over six innings. Cade Cavalli took the loss, falling to 3-4 after giving up four runs in 4⅓ innings. Arizona scored first in the opening inning and never trailed. The Nationals tied it in the second, but the Diamondbacks regained the lead in the fourth when Nolan Arenado scored on a force out. Gabriel Moreno hit a two-run homer in the fifth, and Pavin Smith added a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Tommy Troy reached base three times for Arizona, which collected nine hits. Washington managed only three hits, all singles. Attendance was 35,540, and the game lasted 2 hours, 32 minutes. The Diamondbacks improved to 34-31, while the Nationals fell to 33-33. Washington had won the first two games of the series by a combined 20-2.

PHOENIX (Interstat) — Michael Soroka pitched seven strong innings and Gabriel Moreno homered and drove in two runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Washington Nationals 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field. Soroka allowed three hits and one earned run while striking out six to improve to 8-3. The right-hander rebounded from a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 2 in which he surrendered four earned runs over six innings. His performance Sunday helped the Diamondbacks avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of a Nationals team that had outscored them 20-2 in the first two games of the series. Cade Cavalli took the loss for Washington, falling to 3-4. The Nationals starter allowed seven hits and four earned runs over five innings with two strikeouts. Arizona opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Corbin Carroll led off with his 10th home run of the season, a solo shot to center field off Cavalli. The Diamondbacks added single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. Washington tied the game in the top of the second when shortstop CJ Abrams hit his 14th home run of the season, a solo shot to right field off Soroka. It was the only run the Nationals would manage against Soroka, who retired 14 of the final 17 batters he faced after the Abrams homer. The turning point came in the bottom of the fifth inning with the game tied 1-1. Carroll led off with a pop out to Abrams, then Moreno put Arizona ahead for good with a two-run home run to left field that also scored Tommy Troy, who had walked earlier in the inning. The blast was Moreno’s fourth of the season and gave the Diamondbacks a 3-1 lead. Arizona extended its lead in the seventh inning. Carroll walked, Moreno singled and Nolan Arenado walked to load the bases with no outs. Pavin Smith then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Carroll to make it 4-1. The Diamondbacks added their fifth run later in the inning on a force out that scored Arenado. Washington mounted little offense after the second inning. The Nationals managed only three hits in the game, all singles — from Abrams, Keibert Ruiz and Curtis Mead. Mead doubled in the sixth inning for the team’s only extra-base hit besides the homer. The Nationals struck out nine times, including four against Soroka. Arizona’s pitching held Washington scoreless over the final seven innings. Kevin Ginkel pitched a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one and allowing no hits. Taylor Clarke closed the game with a scoreless ninth, also striking out one. For the Diamondbacks, Moreno finished 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Carroll went 1 for 3 with a home run, a walk and two runs scored. Geraldo Perdomo had two hits, including a sharp single in the second, and scored on the pivotal force out in the fourth. Washington got one hit from Ruiz, who doubled in the seventh inning, and one from Mead, who tripled but was left stranded. Abrams also struck out once in addition to his home run. The Nationals used three pitchers in relief. Gus Varland pitched a scoreless eighth inning with one strikeout. Riley Cornelio worked two innings of relief, allowing two hits and one earned run with one strikeout. Arizona improved to 34-31 with the victory, while Washington fell to 33-33. The Nationals had won the first two games of the series by scores of 6-1 and 14-1 on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Diamondbacks had dropped their previous two contests after splitting a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Washington will travel to San Francisco for a three-game series beginning Monday against the Giants. Arizona will visit Miami for a three-game set starting Tuesday against the Marlins. The crowd of 35,540 at Chase Field saw a game that lasted 2 hours, 32 minutes. The game was a matchup of two teams hovering around .500. Arizona came in as a favorite with a point spread of minus-1.5 and a moneyline advantage. Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Arizona 5, Washington 4, and its ELO system gave Arizona a 59.20 percent probability to win. The total of six runs went over the over-under line of 8.5.

AP Sports Preview: Nationals at Diamondbacks PHOENIX (Interstat) — The Washington Nationals aim for a three-game series sweep Sunday afternoon when they face the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Washington (33-32) has dominated the first two games of this set, outscoring Arizona 20-2. The Nationals won 6-1 on Saturday behind Zack Littell, who allowed one earned run over five innings. Washington also posted a 14-1 victory Friday, powered by a productive offense that has piled up 20 hits in the series. The Nationals send Michael Soroka (7-3, 3.12 ERA) to the mound. The right-hander has been Washington’s most consistent starter. He has won his last three decisions and pitched at least six innings in five of his past six outings. Soroka will face a Diamondbacks lineup that has managed just two runs and 10 hits across the first two games of the series. Arizona (33-31) has lost four of its past five games. The Diamondbacks counter with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (5-4, 3.45 ERA). Rodriguez took the loss Saturday, allowing four earned runs over 6⅓ innings. Before that, he had posted a 1.64 ERA over his previous three starts, striking out 13 across 19 innings. Players to Watch For Washington, Littell has been dominant. The right-hander has won five consecutive starts, posting a 1.93 ERA over that span with 22 strikeouts and two walks in 28 innings. He worked five scoreless innings against Arizona on Friday. For Arizona, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo is 5-for-8 with two doubles in the series. Series Notes Washington has won six of its past eight games overall. The Nationals are 6-3 against the National League West this season. Arizona has lost nine of its past 12 games. The Diamondbacks are 11-17 at home. Betting Line Arizona is a minus-1.5 favorite. The over-under is 8½ runs. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-4 Diamondbacks victory. Upcoming The Nationals open a three-game series Monday at San Francisco. The Diamondbacks travel to Miami for a three-game set beginning Tuesday.