WASHINGTON -- The stage was set for a comeback -- multiple times, at that.

In the end, a bases-loaded rally with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and one of baseball¡¯s most dominant hitters at the plate fell short by way of a popup to third base. It¡¯s a chance the Nationals would like to have back, but manager Dave Martinez saw a lot to like as he watched his players swinging to win.

¡°They were locked in, they were ready,¡± Martinez said following the Nats¡¯ 4-3 loss to the D-backs on Thursday at Nationals Park. ¡°We had opportunities the last couple innings to put the game away, and we just couldn't do it. But I'll take my chances with those guys, especially Juan [Soto] up there in that situation.¡±

Beleaguered by a trio of Arizona home runs hit off starter Josh Rogers, Washington trailed 4-2 entering the eighth inning. Alcides Escobar (walk) and Victor Robles (fielding error, second base) got the momentum going for the top of the order. The D-backs walked Soto to load the bases with one out.

Their gamble paid off: Nelson Cruz, who had walloped a Statcast-projected 426-foot homer earlier in the game, popped out on the first pitch he saw from Ian Kennedy. Up next, Josh Bell drove in a run when his bat hit D-backs catcher Jose Herrera's glove, putting him on base via catcher's interference, but Keibert Ruiz also popped up in foul territory on a first-pitch swing, ending the Nats' threat.

¡°He's a high-ball hitter,¡± Martinez said of Ruiz. ¡°I think that one was just a little too high for him. But we wanted him swinging at the balls up and, like I said, just a little too high.¡±

Another bases-loaded opportunity presented itself in the ninth. With two outs, Escobar and Robles delivered again, as Escobar singled to center field and Robles lined a single to right. An errant cutter from Mark Melancon hit C¨¦sar Hern¨¢ndez to load the bases, this time with no wiggle room to walk Soto, who last season hit .333 with the bases loaded.

¡°Just try to win the game,¡± Soto said of his first thought when he approached the plate. ¡°Try to get a single, and try to bring the runners in.¡±

Soto took the first pitch from Melancon, a cutter, for a strike. Looking to be aggressive, he fouled off a knuckle curve to fall behind 0-2. Soto then swung at another cutter, popping it up to third base for the final out. In retrospect, he said, he should have watched it go by.

¡°It was a bad pitch -- I swung at a ball,¡± Soto said. ¡°There¡¯s nothing that I can do with a bad pitch. I¡¯ve got to look for pitches in the strike zone to make good contact.¡±

From Martinez¡¯s point of view, he saw Soto trying to protect the plate and swinging at a ball that was ¡°just a little up.¡± He approached the slugger with a pat on the back and a forward-thinking message that didn¡¯t linger on the disappointing loss.

¡°'I can't wait until you're up with the bases loaded again -- and again and again,'¡± Martinez said. ¡°More times than not, he'll come through."

For all the home runs and big hits Soto has crushed, there were lessons to be learned in the 23-year-old¡¯s still-young career.

¡°For me, I just go out there. If I miss, I miss. I¡¯m not going to be scared to miss,¡± he said. ¡°I just go out there and try to do my job. If it goes my way, that¡¯s great. If not, I¡¯m going to get another chance.¡±