PHOENIX (Interstat) — Zack Littell pitched five strong innings and the Washington Nationals used a pair of two-run homers, a sacrifice bunt and a two-run ninth inning to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-1 on Saturday afternoon at Chase Field.

The Nationals, who pounded Arizona 14-1 a afternoon earlier, improved to 33-32 on the season. The Diamondbacks, who entered the afternoon with the best record in the National League West, fell to 33-31.

Littell allowed two hits and one earned run while striking out four over five innings to earn his sixth win of the season against four losses. He had entered the game on a strong stretch, having allowed three earned runs over 13 innings in his previous two starts, both victories.

Brad Lord worked two perfect innings of relief, striking out one, to notch his first save of the season. Orlando Ribalta pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Mitchell Parker worked a perfect ninth as the Nationals bullpen combined to retire all 12 batters they faced over the final four innings.

Eduardo Rodriguez took the loss for Arizona, allowing six hits and four earned runs over six and one-third innings while striking out five. He fell to 5-2 on the season.

Washington jumped on Rodriguez early. With one out in the top of the first inning, James Wood singled to left field. Curtis Mead followed by crushing his ninth home run of the season to left-center field, giving the Nationals a 2-0 lead. The quick burst represented the only runs Washington would need on a afternoon when their pitching staff dominated.

The Nationals added two more runs in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 4-1. With one out, Jacob Young tripled sharply to center field off Rodriguez. Juan Morillo relieved Rodriguez and faced Nasim Nuñez, who laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Young scored easily on the play, pushing the Nationals lead to 3-1.

The inning began with Dylan Crews launching his second home run of the season to left-center field, stretching the margin to 4-1. Crews finished the afternoon 2 for 4 with a home run, a single and one RBI.

Arizona mounted its only threat in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Pavin Smith singled to center field. After a flyout, Geraldo Perdomo grounded out, advancing Smith to second base. LuJames Groover then lined a single to center field, scoring Smith. Young’s fielding error allowed Groover to advance to third base, but Littell escaped further damage by walking Tommy Troy before inducing a groundout from Ketel Marte.

The Diamondbacks managed only two hits for the entire game, both coming in the fifth inning. Washington’s defense turned two double plays, including a critical one in the bottom of the sixth when second baseman Nasim Nuñez started a 4-3 double play to erase Corbin Carroll after a leadoff walk.

Washington sealed the victory with two more runs in the ninth inning, again on the strength of small ball and timely hitting. Crews led off with a single to center field off reliever Jonathan Loáisiga. Daylen Lile walked, putting runners on first and second. After Jacob Young struck out, Nuñez singled to right field, scoring Crews. Keibert Ruiz then reached on a fielder’s choice, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo throwing home to third baseman Nolan Arenado to retire Lile, who scored on the play when Perdomo’s relay was cut off. Wood walked to load the bases, but Mead grounded into a forceout to end the inning.

Nuñez finished 1 for 3 with two RBIs and made several key defensive plays at second base. Mead drove in two runs with his first-inning home run. Young went 1 for 4 with a triple and a run scored.

For Arizona, Groover collected the only RBI with his fifth-inning single. The Diamondbacks lineup struggled to generate any sustained offense against Littell and the Washington bullpen, striking out seven times and drawing only two walks.

The announced attendance was 30,638. The game lasted 2 hours, 23 minutes.

The Nationals will conclude their four-game series at Arizona on Sunday before traveling to San Francisco for a three-game set beginning Monday. The Diamondbacks will finish their homestand with the series finale against Washington before embarking on a six-game road trip to Miami and Cincinnati.

Curtis Mead’s home run in the first inning proved to be the decisive blow, but the most critical sequence of the game occurred in the bottom of the fifth after Arizona had cut the lead to 2-1. With Groover on third base and one out, Littell walked Tommy Troy, putting runners on the corners. He then induced a groundout from Ketel Marte, ending the inning and preserving Washington’s one-run lead. The Nationals bullpen took over from there and never allowed another Diamondbacks baserunner.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Washington Nationals 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Arizona with a 62.00 percent probability to win. Arizona had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of 7 went over the over-under line of 9.