DJ LeMahieu homered twice and Charlie Blackmon launched a go-ahead, two-run shot to propel the Colorado Rockies to a 7-6 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night.
LeMahieu’s first solo shot of the evening was a game-tying homer in the fifth inning against Braves starter Sean Newcomb. The typically slap-hitting second baseman went yard again in the ninth a batter after Blackmon broke a 4-4 tie with deep fly off of Atlanta closer Arodys Vizcaíno to plate Carlos González, who stared the inning with a pinch-hit, line-drive single.
It was LeMahieu’s first career two-homer game.
The win didn’t come without heavy drama in the bottom of the ninth inning. Greg Holland, whose recent struggles have been well documented, recorded just one out and allowed three hits including a two-run homer to Matt Adams. Rockies manager Bud Black, after Holland gave up a single to Ender Inciarte, elected to call upon Jake Mcgee to get the final two outs of the game.
McGee needed only three pitches to accomplish the goal, inducing a double-play grounder off the bat of Brandon Phillips to seal the Rockies’ 70th victory.
LeMahieu finished 3-for-5 to lead the Rockies’ offense. Trevor Story hit a two-run double, and Gerardo Parra and Nolan Arenado chipped in two hits apiece.
Colorado starter Kyle Freeland allowed four runs on 10 hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked just one. Chris Rusin and Pat Neshek combined for two scoreless innings of relief for the Rockies, who entered the night 3 1⁄2 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the second NL Wild Card spot.