Michael Soroka threw five strong innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks scored a pair of unearned runs to earn a 2-1 victory over the visiting Atlanta Braves on Saturday.
Soroka (2-0) allowed one run on four hits, striking out three and walking three for Arizona, which had dropped the first two games of the series. Soroka posted his first win against his former club, following 44 appearances with Atlanta from 2018-23. The Diamondbacks’ pitching staff retired the final 14 Atlanta batters of the game.
Bryce Elder (1-1) lost despite throwing seven innings of two-run (zero earned) ball. Elder gave up four hits, striking out eight and walking one for the Braves, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped.
Atlanta struck first in the top of the second, as Mike Yazstremski’s leadoff walk was followed with Dominic Smith’s two-out RBI single.
After Gabriel Moreno and Nolan Arenado singled in the bottom of the second, Jose Fernandez laid down a bunt and Elder’s errant throw sailed into right field, allowing both runners to score.
Moreno had half of Arizona’s four hits as he went 2-for-3 with two singles.
Soroka was relieved in the sixth by Taylor Clarke, who threw a perfect frame. Jonathan Loaisiga retired the side for Arizona in the seventh.
Matt Olson was 1 of 3 on the day and this inning double was the only extra-base hit of the day.
Elder got through another clean inning in the bottom of the seventh, before Juan Morillo pitched a perfect top of the eighth to preserve Arizona’s one-run edge.
Tyler Kinley came in for Elder after 89 pitches, needing just seven pitches to ease through the bottom of the eighth. Paul Sewald sat down each of three batters he faced in the ninth, posting his third save in as many opportunities.
Atlanta will look to clinch its third straight series to begin the season on Sunday.
