Nationals vs Diamondbacks Recap: Young Nats Fall to D-backs 5-1

The Washington Nationals rolled into Chase Field riding high. Just yesterday, they'd crushed the Diamondbacks 6-1 and 14-1 in a doubleheader. Now they were back for game three of the series, sitting at 33-33. Arizona wanted revenge badly. The Diamondbacks were 34-31, hungry to bounce back at home. Michael Soroka took the mound for Arizona, ready to shut down Washington's bats. Cade Cavalli pitched for the Nationals, hoping to stay sharp. Both teams knew this game mattered. One win could shift the whole series. The Diamondbacks came ready to fight. They weren't going to let Washington sweep them. The crowd was loud. The energy was electric. Anything could happen.

Corbin Carroll came up swinging in the first inning. Cavalli threw a knuckle curve at 87 miles per hour. Carroll connected. The ball rocketed to center field and kept going. Gone! One-zero Diamondbacks. But the Nationals answered right back. In the second inning, CJ Abrams stepped up against Soroka. The shortstop got a cutter at 86 miles per hour. He ripped it to right field. Boom! The ball sailed over the wall. Tied one-one. Then Arizona took over. In the fourth inning, a fielder's choice put Nolan Arenado on the board. Gabriel Moreno crushed a changeup in the fifth, sending a two-run shot over the left wall. Arizona was up 4-1 now. The Nationals' pitching was falling apart.

Washington couldn't catch up. Arizona's bats just kept scoring. In the seventh inning, Pavin Smith hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Corbin Carroll raced home. Arizona now led 5-1. That was it for the Nationals. They had no answer. Cavalli gave up four earned runs in five innings. The bullpen came in but couldn't stop the bleeding. Riley Cornelio and the relievers held Arizona scoreless after Cavalli left, but it was too late. The Nationals couldn't scratch together another run. CJ Abrams went one-for-four with his solo shot. Nothing else clicked. Michael Soroka was brilliant. He pitched seven innings, gave up just three hits and one run. Kevin Ginkel and Taylor Clarke shut the door. The final score was Arizona 5, Washington 1. The Diamondbacks bounced back perfectly. Washington dropped to 33-34. Arizona climbed to 35-31 and kept rolling.