LOS ANGELES — The Rockies’ starting rotation had a chance to be the best in franchise history. At least that was the view of many during spring training.

It hasn’t come close to working out that way: Left-hander Kyle Freeland is toiling for Triple-A Albuquerque as he tries to regain his lost form, southpaw Tyler Anderson recently underwent knee surgery and is probably lost for the season, and right-hander Chad Bettis is pitching in long relief.

But right-hander Antonio Senzatela has emerged as a stable presence in the rotation, and he proved it again Sunday, despite the Rockies’ third walk-off loss in a row to the Dodgers.

Senzatela pitched 6⅓ innings, allowing two runs on five hits, with five strikeouts and one walk. Five of his six games have been quality starts, with the Rockies going 4-2 over that

span. He has posted a 3.34 ERA over those six games.

“I feel like I have a pretty good confidence level, and today I thought I had good fastball command,” he said. “I also think my slider and curveball were good today.”

Said manager Bud Black: “His fastball has been really good and the velocity has been up a notch, and he’s been commanding it much better. I also think there has been a little change in his delivery, sort of an aggressive, upbeat delivery. It’s something (pitching coaches Steve Foster and Darren Holmes) have worked on and ‘Senza’ has taken that out to the mound.’ ”

Sunday, Senzatela was in complete command until the seventh inning, when Matt Beaty hit a one-out single that second baseman Ryan McMahon nearly turned into a web gem. Then Kike Hernandez stepped up and ripped a double off Senzatela’s 109th pitch of the game.

Clearly, Senzatela was done, so Black called on Bettis to put out the fire. He could not. Pinch-hitter Chris Taylor hijacked Bettis’ first-pitch curveball and blasted it deep into the left-field bleachers for a three-run homer to tie the game.

Story’s timeline. Injured shortstop Trevor Story, on the injured list with a sprained and bruised right thumb, is healing quickly and might be back quicker than the Rockies first anticipated.

“It’s really just a matter of getting over the deep bruise,” Story said. “Just knowing that it’s nothing serious is huge for me. But I dinged my bone pretty good.”

Black originally said that Story would miss “a couple of weeks” of playing time, but Story said it’s “possible” he could return June 29 when he’s eligible to come off the 10-day injured list.

“As a player, that’s obviously my goal, but we are going to be smart about it,” Story said. “I’m going to listen to my body. But if I’m feeling good, I think we can get it going.”

Story has been doing cardiovascular work and lifting weights, and he took groundballs Saturday.

Roster shuffle. The Rockies optioned right-handed Jeff Hoffman to Triple-A Albuquerque and recalled utility man Garrett Hampson, in part because a three of the Rockies’ starting position players — third baseman Nolan Arenado, center fielder Ian Desmond and right fielder Charlie Blackmon — are hurting.

“They just needed a day or two to heal a bit,” Black said. Related Articles Rockies’ Daniel Bard finishing up improbable season on a high note

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Also, Hoffman has been struggling, so he is being set down for a tuneup for the third time this season. In seven starts for the Rockies in 2019, he has posted a 6.75 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.

With Hoffman’s demotion, the Rockies need a starter for Tuesday’s game at San Francisco. There’s a strong possibility it will be right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez, who has a 5.66 ERA in 14 starts for Triple-A Albuquerque this year. It would be Gonzalez’s first major-league start since 2016.

Freeland, who is likely to come back up at some point this season, is not a candidate to start Tuesday, Black said. Freeland, who was optioned to Triple-A on May 31, made his fourth start for Albuquerque on Sunday. Freeland allowed five runs before getting ejected with two outs in the third inning.