Hoffman sent to Triple-A after rough start

DENVER -- A day after Jeff Hoffman allowed seven runs on four homers in two innings in a 9-3 loss to the D-backs, the Rockies optioned Hoffman to Triple-A Albuquerque. Right-hander Yency Almonte was recalled from Triple-A to take Hoffman’s spot on the roster before Wednesday afternoon's 7-6 walk-off win for the Rockies over the D-backs at Coors Field.

Hoffman got the spot start when Jon Gray was scratched due to left ankle soreness after he slipped on the dugout steps during his last start. Gray is expected to be on the mound again Friday at home against the Marlins.

Hoffman was the prized acquisition in the 2015 trade that sent five-time All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays. He posted a 1-4 record and a 7.81 ERA in nine starts and 40 1/3 innings this season for the Rockies. In parts of four big league seasons -- all with Colorado -- Hoffman is 7-13 with a 6.31 ERA in 46 games (32 starts).

“Jeff’s a part of our organization,” Rockies manager Bud Black said before Wednesday afternoon’s series finale with the D-backs. “We’re going to continue to coach him, and he’s going to continue to pitch. Hopefully, he finds some consistency.”

Hoffman’s search for consistency is emblematic of a Rockies pitching staff that has underachieved since leading the club to back-to-back postseason appearances in 2017 and 2018.

“I don’t think there’s a simple answer,” Black said about the dramatic fall-off in a staff that boasted a 4.33 ERA last season but is at 5.60 through 120 games in 2019. “It probably comes down to the consistency of pitch quality. It just hasn’t been there. We haven’t done that consistently pitch to pitch and at-bat to at-bat, and it shows in a lot of statistical categories. ... Too many guys are just a little bit off, and not enough guys are on.”

Almonte has a 4.02 ERA in 10 relief appearance for the Rockies this season, and has allowed seven walks while striking out nine in 15 2/3 innings.