Left-hander Franklin Morales was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday, one day after making a spotty start for the Sky Sox on a rehabilitation assignment.

“We just decided like he needs more time,” manager Jim Tracy. “I told him it was a genuine opportunity for him, but it’s a two-way street. The ball is in his court. If gets right, there’s a number of ways he can help us.”

Morales, the losing pitcher in a 14-4 loss to Las Vegas, allowed eight hits and nine runs, eight earned, in 4 1/3 innings Thursday with three walks and seven strikeouts. He also gave up two home runs while throwing 97 pitches, 61 for strikes. He threw 56 pitches in the first two innings.

Morales threw 46 of 68 fastballs for strikes but averaged 88 mph with the pitch. He couldn’t effectively locate his curveball in the strike zone.

This was the third rehab start for Morales with the Sky Sox, the others coming May 31 and June 5. In those three starts, Morales went 0-2 with an 8.49 ERA and allowed 15 hits and seven walks in 11 2/3 innings with 17 strikeouts.

Morales suffered a strained left lat muscle April 21 while warming up in the third inning of his second start of the season with the Rockies. In his first start, Morales gave up four hits and one run in six innings at Arizona and was the winning pitcher in the Rockies 9-2 victory on April 8.

In Morales’ absence, starters Jason Hammel and Jorge De La Rosa have pitched well recently, solidifying what had been a shaky back of the Rockies’ rotation.

In other Rockies news, reliever Taylor Buchholz is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday. If that goes well, he’s likely to travel Tuesday to join high Class A Modesto where he will begin a rehab assignment that is likely to last the full 30 days since Buchholz, who suffered a partially torn ligament in his right elbow, hasn’t pitched this season.