PHOENIX — A bunt single by rookie José Fernandez led to two unearned runs in the second inning Saturday night at Chase Field, and the Arizona Diamondbacks held on to defeat the Atlanta Braves and deny the visitors their first chance to clinch a victory in the four-game series.

With runners at first and second, Fernandez dropped a bunt to the third-base side of the mound. Atlanta pitcher Bryce Elder picked it up and threw wildly to first, allowing Gabriel Moreno and Nolan Arenado to score.

Michael Soroka (2-0) allowed one run in five innings for the Diamondbacks. He gave up four hits and one run in a 91-pitch outing, walking three batters and striking out as many.

This is the first year in Arizona for Soroka, who spent his first six years in the major leagues with the Braves from 2018-23 and showed major promise before injuries got his career off track. The 2019 MLB All-Star selection was traded to the Chicago White Sox ahead of the 2024 season, then pitched for the Washington Nationals last year before a midseason trade to the Chicago Cubs.

Taylor Clarke, Jonathan Loáisaga, Juan Morillo and Paul Sewald each pitched a 1-2-3 inning in relief, with Sewald picking up his third save of the season.

The Diamondbacks (4-5) shook off a 17-2 loss to Atlanta in Thursday’s series opener and a 2-0 loss Friday night in which back-to-back homers by Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson to lead off the ninth inning lifted the Braves to the victory.

Elder (1-1) still hasn’t allowed an earned run this season in 13 innings, but he took the loss Saturday because of his own error. He pitched seven innings, giving up four hits, walking one batter and striking out eight.

The Braves scored in the second inning. Mike Yastrzemski led off with a walk, advanced to second on an infield out and scored on Dominic Smith’s two-out single to left.

Mauricio Dubón’s leadoff single in the fifth, clocked at 105 mph, went off — or through — the glove of Arizona shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, who had to replace the equipment before play resumed.

Neither team had a runner after that inning.

The Braves are playing 13 days in a row to open the season. Even with the loss Saturday, they’re 6-3 — a stark contrast to last season’s 0-7 start they never really recovered from on the way to a 76-86 record, the franchise’s worst since going 72-90 in 2017.

The Diamondbacks will be trying to force a split Sunday, when the Braves will be trying to a win a third straight series to start the year.

The scheduled starting pitchers are Arizona right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (0-0, 7.50. ERA) and Atlanta left-hander Martin Pérez (0-0, 0.00).