BALTIMORE - The Atlanta Braves haven't lost in nine games, and the Baltimore Orioles haven't won in twice that many. That doesn't mean their latest matchup was a foregone conclusion to those involved.
"We just take every win for what it is, and then on to the next one," said Atlanta pitcher Touki Toussaint, who started Sunday in the finale of a three-game series at Camden Yards. "We know how hard this game is."
Toussaint pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the surging Braves beat Baltimore 3-1, extending the Orioles' losing streak to 18 games. Atlanta has won 16 of its past 18 games overall and completed a nine-game trip by extending its franchise record for consecutive road wins in a single season to 13.
Baltimore's skid is the longest in Major League Baseball since the Kansas City Royals dropped 19 straight in 2005. Sunday's game was only the third time during the Orioles' losing streak they have lost by two or fewer runs, but the Braves didn't seem to take them lightly after holding on for a 5-4 win Saturday night.
"These teams, they're in a tough situation sometimes," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "It's real easy to go into that situation and get swept before you know what the heck happened."
The Braves (68-56) have gone from fighting to move above .500 at the start of the month to leading the National League East - and building a cushion over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies and third-place New York Mets - as they seek their fourth straight division title.
Toussaint (3-2) allowed a run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and three walks, and Atlanta used five relievers to finish off the win. Luke Jackson struck out the side in the eighth, and Will Smith closed for his 28th save in 32 chances this season.
A light rain fell through much of the game, but there were no delays.
John Means (5-6) yielded three runs and four hits in six-plus innings for Baltimore (38-85), which is 38 games out of first place in the American League East.
"I thought today was going to be the day," Means said. "Felt good, felt like things were going in our favor, and it just didn't happen."
Atlanta designated hitter Jorge Soler opened the scoring with one out in the fourth when his drive cleared the wall in left field, and Adam Duvall's two-out double made it 3-0. Both players were among those acquired by the Braves late last month at the trade deadline as they revamped a depleted outfield.
"Those deadline players have really helped," Snitker said. "They've made our club better, deeper."
Ramón Urías hit an RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the inning for the Orioles, who went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position Sunday.
"I have no problem with effort," Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. "We're not winning games. We're not executing. We're very inexperienced. We got beat this series by good pitching."
Atlanta took advantage of some weaker opponents on its road trip, sweeping three-game series against the Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins - the bottom two teams in the NL East - before doing the same against the Orioles. In their next eight games, the Braves will face the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, all of them at least 20 games above .500.
Atlanta hosts the Yankees on Monday and Tuesday before getting two days in a row off before the Giants visit Friday to start a three-game series at Truist Park. The Braves won't have a day off before starting a three-game series at reigning World Series champion Los Angeles.