MIAMI -- With the way the Nationals have been playing lately, there is little doubt they welcomed the news that the Marlins would throw a bullpen game on Sunday afternoon.

It just did not work out the way Washington had hoped.

A two-run homer from Jorge Soler in the third inning spoiled a terrific start from Trevor Williams as the Marlins prevented the Nationals from picking up a sweep in Miami for the first time since June 25-27, 2019, by beating them, 2-1, in the finale at loanDepot park.

Miami has won seven of the nine games between the two teams this season.

The Nats now head to Toronto, where they will finish a nine-game road trip that has been a success thus far. Washington entered Sunday with three straight wins and five consecutive series victories. The club is 4-2 on the trip, which started in the Bronx, and it has won 11 of its past 15 games.

“[Williams] was awesome. He was pounding the strike zone,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He is another guy who picked up the bullpen, but the offense just couldn’t score any runs. We had a couple opportunities but just could not capitalize on any of them. That’s how it goes. We’re playing well. Let’s forget about this one and come back tomorrow.”

Marlins opener JT Chargois went one inning with Bryan Hoeing (2-2) coming on in the second and going four strong.

Hoeing allowed the Nationals’ lone run in the third, when CJ Abrams, who had singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a Lane Thomas double, came home on a grounder to first from Dominic Smith.

With the Nats up 1-0 going into the bottom of the third, Williams (6-8) gave up a leadoff single to Luis Arraez before Soler launched his 35th home run over the left-center-field wall.

“This is a quick turnaround, and we’re going to see these guys again next week,’’ Williams said. “That makes this game fun. We get to try and do it all over again in less than five days. I am looking forward to it. They are a good hitting ballclub, a good team, which is tough in these games. It is a fun team to chase right now, and it is fun being part of this.”

Williams only gave up one hit after the homer, going a season-high seven innings and allowing the two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

The Marlins did not put a runner in scoring position after the fourth inning.

Washington won the first two games in the Miami series thanks to strong starting pitching.

Joan Adon went six scoreless innings in Friday’s 7-4 win, and Jake Irvin gave up just one run in six strong innings on Saturday.

On Sunday, it was one pitch -- a “slider that didn’t quite get to where myself and [catcher] Riley [Adams] wanted’’ -- that turned out to be the difference.

“Unfortunately, that was a mistake that hurt us, and [it] was a mistake which cost us the game,” Williams said. “As far as execution, I just have to be better at 0-2 [counts], especially with a hitter like [Soler], who has been putting some good swings on the ball of late and for most of his career.”

Said Martinez: “One pitch to a guy who hits it really hard and really far. We battled to the end again, had the winning run at first base [in the ninth], but [we] just couldn’t get it done.’’

Washington did not have many scoring chances, but there were a few.

In the second, Jake Alu singled with one out before getting in scoring position on a wild pitch, but he was stranded there.

In the third, Thomas moved to third base on Smith’s run-scoring groundout, but the inning ended on another grounder to first base from Carter Kieboom.

With one out in the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Keibert Ruiz singled and advanced to second on a knock from Ildemaro Vargas against new Miami closer Tanner Scott.

Jacob Young, making his first big league start, grounded into a double play to end the rally -- and the game.

“I think their bullpen is pretty good, and you come into the game knowing that,” said Thomas, who struck out three times, including with runners at first and second to end the seventh. “You hope you can get a few at-bats off the same guy, but today, you faced a new guy each time most of the time. Their starters all throw good stuff, so you knew this was going to be a challenge every game. …

“Today was a close game one through nine, and I have to put the ball in play with guys on and in scoring position. We could have snuck that one out. I was hoping I would get up [in the ninth] to kind of redeem myself, but you know how that goes.”