BOSTON -- Nathan Eovaldi was one misfire away from closing 2019 with a scoreless outing.

But as has been the case for Eovaldi for most of this season, something went amiss in a 4-1 loss to the Orioles on Friday night at Fenway Park.

This time, it was a curveball in the dead-center of the plate that Renato Núñez mauled for a three-run homer in the top of the third.

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“It was definitely frustrating,” Eovaldi said of his season. “I felt like I couldn’t get consecutive good starts. Felt like there was always a little bit of something going on. Felt like I threw the ball well tonight, it was just the walks that got me. I also had Núñez right there, left it down the middle and he was able to hit it out.”

In a five-inning performance, Eovaldi also had some control issues, walking four. He gave up three hits and struck out three.

“I think obviously strike one is very important. We know the stuff is there,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “I really liked the one [at] Tampa Bay after the first inning. I think his rhythm was great. He did an outstanding job keeping them off-balanced. Tonight, he walked four and there was a lot of traffic out there. And that 0-2 pitch to Núñez, he stays on it. It’s kind of like, [he needs to be] more consistent.”

A significant injury which required right elbow surgery and a fluctuation of roles made this a difficult season for Eovaldi, coming off his brilliant October of last year. In 23 appearances -- 12 of them starts -- Eovaldi went 2-1 with a 5.99 ERA.

“He was never able to find his rhythm throughout the season,” said Cora.

The flame-throwing righty will now turn his attention to the offseason and putting together the type of 2020 season the Sox envisioned when he was signed to a four-year, $68 million contract back in December.

“I felt like for the most part this whole season, my cutter and splitter were real inconsistent. So [I would like] to be able to work on those and go into Spring Training next year healthy and strong and ready to go,” said Eovaldi. “And I feel like I can have a little more rhythm to my windup and my mechanics, so that will be what I’m really trying to work on this offseason and, like I said, be ready for next year, ready to go.”

Without question, Eovaldi is one of the key players the Red Sox need to see some improvement from in 2020.

“This is a guy that we trust,” Cora said. “We made a big commitment to him. We saw what he did last year when he came here and then towards the end of the season. So we believe that he can be a force in the rotation."

Eovaldi is of the firm belief that sticking with one role next season will benefit him.

“I was trying to do different roles and help the team out, but next year I’ll come in ready to start,” Eovaldi said.