ATLANTA -- Are the red-hot Orioles for actual, or have they been the beneficiaries of a lighter early-season schedule towards principally sub-.500 groups?

Baltimore took step one towards disproving that latter narrative Friday evening at Truist Park. Because not even Max Fried and the formidable Braves may sluggish the Orioles’ momentum. And Anthony Santander had fairly a bit to do with that.

Santander swatted a pair of homers -- together with a grand slam throughout a seven-run seventh inning -- and drove in 5 runs because the O’s started their three-game weekend collection in Atlanta with a 9-4 assertion win. Baltimore improved to 22-10 and now has the second-best file in MLB, behind solely American League East rival Tampa Bay (27-6).

The Orioles recorded their 18th win in 23 video games by tagging Fried for seven runs (5 earned) over six-plus innings. However, the southpaw had allowed solely two runs via six by way of Gunnar Henderson’s RBI groundout within the third and Santander’s solo homer within the fourth.

During the seventh, Baltimore despatched 13 batters to the plate. The first 5 reached base, starting with Cedric Mullins’ leadoff homer that pushed the O’s result in 3-1. Fried departed after his second throwing error of the evening allowed Baltimore to make it 4-1, and Adley Rutschman walked to load the bases with no outs.

Shortly after the Braves turned to righty Joe Jiménez, Santander cleared the bases by once more going deep for a grand slam, which pushed the Orioles’ result in 8-1 and put the sport out of attain. Mullins capped the scoring within the huge inning by driving in one other run with a single.

On the opposite aspect of the pitching matchup, Baltimore right-hander Dean Kremer turned in a much-needed sturdy outing. After posting a 6.67 ERA over his first six begins -- 5 of which he’d allowed 4 or extra runs -- the 27-year-old outdueled Fried by tossing six innings of one-run ball. Kremer scattered six hits and two walks, struck out three and principally relied on his protection, which turned double performs to finish every of his ultimate two frames.

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