DENVER -- Antonio Senzatela was called up Tuesday to start the second game in a three-game set vs. the Padres, and the Rockies optioned Raimel Tapia to Albuquerque to make room on the roster, again giving them four bench players and eight relievers.
Since he was recalled on June 6, Tapia mostly filled in for the injured Gerardo Parra and Ian Desmond, hitting .356 (32-for-90).
"Tough one," manager Bud Black said. "[Tapia] was instrumental in a number of our wins and we liked the fact that he comes to the park with energy, a smile on his face, he loves to play and he's about winning."
Black did not rule out Tapia coming back to the Majors this season.
"Like we told him, this is a part of being a young player on a team that has some established veteran guys, and I expect at some point that he could return and help us win games," Black said.
The Rockies had sent Senzatela to Triple-A Albuquerque essentially for a breather as his innings built up. Senzatela threw just 34 2/3 innings in an injury-riddled 2016 for Double-A Hartford.
"He threw 60 pitches in Albuquerque last Thursday to set him up for this, he threw a couple times in relief to keep current," Black said. "But we think it's been a nice little break for him from his last start on June 22."
Entering Tuesday, Senzatela has thrown 96 2/3 innings this year between the Majors and Albuquerque. His career-high was 154 innings in 2015 for Class A Advanced.
Worth Noting
• Rookie left-hander Kyle Freeland will return to the rotation and start Sunday vs. the Pirates, Black said. Freeland made his last start on July 9, when he came two outs short of the first Rockies no-hitter at Coors Field. He made one relief appearance against the Mets on July 15, throwing three hitless innings.
Freeland said he understands the Rockies trying to limit his innings, but said he's prepared for anything.
"[I understand it], especially after last year when I hit the most amount of innings I've ever thrown," Freeland said. "I'm already sneaking up on that now and we've just started the second half."
• Tyler Chatwood is feeling less soreness in the calf that forced him from his last start after just 19 pitches, and he played catch Monday. He could throw off a mound as soon as Wednesday.
• Tyler Anderson played catch Tuesday while wearing a knee brace. Anderson had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee July 3 and he's still in the stage of his rehab where he's strengthening the knee.