ATLANTA - With closer Arodys Vizcaino on the disabled list, the Atlanta Braves found strong relief elsewhere Sunday afternoon.
Four relievers combined to allow one hit in four scoreless innings, giving the bullpen an important lift as the Braves beat Baltimore 7-3 for their first win versus the Orioles in six years.
Freddie Freeman's two-run single in the first inning gave Atlanta the lead, an RBI double by Jason Markakis and a two-run double by Charlie Culberson made the Braves' advantage 5-1 in the third, and Dansby Swanson added a pinch-hit, two-run homer inside the left-field foul pole in the eighth for the final margin.
Left-hander A.J. Minter pitched a perfect ninth after scoreless innings from Shane Carle, Jesse Biddle and Dan Winkler in relief of Brandon McCarthy. Vizcaino, who hasn't pitched since June 17 against the New York Mets, was placed on the DL before the game with right shoulder inflammation.
"My job was to kind of help out Vizzy today, give him some rest," Minter said.
The bullpen's strong showing was especially important after Braves relievers allowed nine runs and 10 hits in a 15-inning game Friday night with Vizcaino unavailable.
"Those guys in the bullpen stepped up big," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. " They couldn't have done any better."
Baltimore won the first two games of this interleague series and swept the last set between the teams in 2015. Atlanta, first in the NL East, ended a stretch of seven straight losses to the Orioles since 2012.
McCarthy (6-3) overcame home runs by pinch-hitter Mark Trumbo and Trey Mancini to allow three runs in five innings.
Mancini, back in the lineup after missing three starts with a stiff neck, led off the third with his 10th homer of the season. Despite Sunday's loss, Mancini said winning the series against the Braves was the best showing for the Orioles - who are last in the AL East - since winning three of four against the New York Yankees in early April.
"This series down here felt like us again, I'd say for the first time really since the New York series early in the year in the Bronx," Mancini said.
Trumbo hit a two-run homer beyond the reach of center fielder Ender Inciarte in the fifth. He has five homers in his past seven games.
The Braves took a 2-0 lead before David Hess (2-4) recorded an out. Hess walked Inciarte, who moved to third on Ozzie Albies' double, and both scored on Freeman's single to left field. Albies had three hits, giving him nine for the series.
Hess gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in four innings. It was his third straight start allowing five runs.
McCarthy was well-rested for a day game, prime conditions for success for the 34-year-old right-hander. He began the day 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA in four day games this season, compared to a 5.79 ERA in 10 night starts. He was making his first start since June 15, and he was 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in his previous three starts with at least six days rest.
On the injury front, Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (left knee sprain) likely will spend at least one more day on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett. Snitker said the Braves are "still kind of evaluating" Acuna, who has been on the DL since May 28, to "make sure he's healed. He feels he is."
In transactions, the Braves selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Evan Phillips from Triple-A Gwinnett, where he was 4-4 with a 2.31 ERA in 26 games, all in relief. Phil Gosselin, an infielder, was designated for assignment to create a spot for Phillips on the 40-man roster.