ATLANTA -- When Carlos Gonzalez led off the ninth inning of a tied game with a single, Colorado manager Bud Black wanted Charlie Blackmon to bunt.

It didn't matter that Blackmon is leading the National League in hitting, his job was to sacrifice the runner into scoring position.

But the strategy changed when Blackmon got two strikes on him. It was time to swing away. The result was a two-run homer deep to right field that changed the outcome of the game and helped send the Rockies to a 7-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday at SunTrust Park.

"We've been talking about big hits for a couple weeks now," Black said. "Trevor (Story) gave us one. Charlie gave us one. We've talked about stringing hits together and we did that in a couple different innings."

Blackmon's homer was his 31st and matched his career high with 82 RBIs.

DJ LeMahieu followed Blackmon's blast with one of his own, his second of the night, against Atlanta closer Arodys Vizcaino (3-3). LeMahieu had also homered in the fifth inning, a long shot to right field. It was his first career multi-home run game.

"I'm really glad DJ hit that homer to go up three there," Blackmon said. "That ended up being the game-winner. He had a great night. I'm really happy for him."

Atlanta closed the gap in the bottom of the ninth when Matt Adams hit a two-run pinch-hit homer off Colorado closer Greg Holland with one out.

After allowing a hit to Ender Inciarte, Holland was lifted in favor of left-hander Greg McGee, who induced Brandon Phillips into grounding into a game-ending double play. McGee secured his second save.

Pat Neshek (4-3 overall, 1-1 with Colorado) pitched a perfect eighth inning to earn the victory.

It was a rare misstep for Vizcaino, who entered the game having retired 23 of the last 26 batters faced. His weakness has been the longball as that was the sixth and seventh ones he has given up, and 11 of the 14 runs he has allowed have come on homers.

"That kind of happened so fast and (Vizcaino) has been really, really good. He's been lights out," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.

The seven runs scored were the most by the Rockies since they had eight against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 18, a span of six games.

"We feel like the runs have been hard to come by lately," Story said. "We haven't really gotten the hits we need. It was good to do that for sure."

Atlanta scored twice in the seventh to tie it 4-4. Ozzie Albies doubled in a run and scored on Dansby Swanson's single to left.

Neither starter received a decision.

Colorado's Kyle Freeland pitched six innings and allowed four runs, 10 hits and one walk, striking out five.

Atlanta's Sean Newcomb departed after 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs, seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

"They were fouling a lot of stuff off with two strikes," Newcomb said. "Felt like they did a good job fouling off pitches and staying alive and making something out of it."

The bullpens for both teams kept the game close. Colorado got scoreless innings from Chris Rusin and Neshek. Atlanta got 1 1/3 scoreless innings from Matt Wisler and one scoreless inning apiece from Jose Ramirez and Dan Winkler.

The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Pat Valaika singled home Gerardo Parra, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning.

Atlanta scored twice in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Phillips drove in a run with an opposite-field single that hit the first-base foul line and Freddie Freeman added a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Rockies scored three runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead and chase Newcomb. LeMahieu homered and Story knocked in Mark Reynolds and Parra with a two-out double to the gap in left.

NOTES: Atlanta 3B Brandon Phillips extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning single. ... Atlanta hit into three double plays and leads the National League with 116. ... Colorado 2B DJ LeMahieu ended a streak of 148 consecutive at-bats without a home run when he connected in the fifth inning. His last homer came July 7 against the Chicago White Sox. ... Colorado CF Charlie Blackmon was back in the lineup after missing Friday's game with leg cramps. ... Colorado SS Trevor Story had a stolen base taken away in the eighth inning because C Jonathan Lucroy interfered with the catcher's throw. ... The finale of the three-game series will be played Sunday. Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz (10-9, 4.95 ERA) will be opposed by Colorado RHP Jon Gray (5-3, 4.54). It is the last meeting between the teams this season. The season series is tied 3-3.