BOSTON — Eduardo Rodriguez felt better. His fastball showed more life.

But the mantra of his postgame press conference Sunday afternoon revolved around three words.

“Just four pitches,” Rodriguez said, the grimace obvious.

Normally, a pitcher might be satisfied by allowing only four hits over 52/3 innings.

But Rodriguez knew better.

“All four hits for homers,” Rodriguez said, shaking his head. “I was bad four times.”

Rodriguez had his worst start since last Aug. 12. He finished last season with seven starts of three earned runs or less.

A future ace?

Or at least, after the signing of David Price, a solid No. 2?

It can still be that way, despite the five runs Rodriguez allowed Sunday. Remember that Rodriguez was making only his second start this season, after suffering a dislocated right kneecap in spring training.

“The knee feels good,” Rodriguez said.

Progress.

And Rodriguez, whose fastball was around 91 mph in his first start, when he allowed two runs in six innings, was hitting 92 to 94 mph on Sunday.

More progress.

“I thought Eddy had a good fastball,” Boston Manager John Farrell said. “Think there was a little more life to it. For the most part, he was down, better today in the strike zone … (except for) a couple of pitches that found their way to the middle.”

Rodriguez liked his fastball so much, he threw it 84 percent of the time, adding 13 change-ups and only three sliders among his 99 pitches.

“I tried to pound the two-seamer in the zone away,” Rodriguez said, the left-hander trying to stay out of the wheelhouse of Toronto’s power hitters.

“I was feeling good, starting to throw the ball where I want to. Sometimes you miss your spots. If you miss, something bad is going to happen, and it happened today.”

Rodriguez fell behind leadoff hitter Jose Bautista 2-1 and threw his first change-up. Bautista pounced for his 12th home run of the season.

In the third, a 92 mph fastball was grooved for No. 9 hitter Darwin Barney, who did not miss it. With two outs, Rodriguez was too careful with Josh Donaldson and walked him. Edwin Encarnacion worked a 3-1 count and swatted a change-up for a two-run homer.

Rodriguez got on a little bit of a roll from there, until Russell Martin clocked a full-count 94 mph fastball.

“That one was right down the middle,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez, 23, is going to make mistakes, but he does not appear the kind of pitcher who ignores them, like some other starters who have been removed from the rotation. He has made adjustments before, and he will likely make them again.

Remember, Rodriguez was 10-6 last year on a bad team, with an ERA of 3.85 despite some blowup starts when tip-pitching was a problem.

Want to complain about his 5.40 ERA after only two starts this year? Remember, David Price’s 5.73 ERA after two starts?

Price has talent and a track record, and there was trust that he would turn it around.

Rodriguez is lacking experience, although his ability is evident. He could be the No. 2 starter Boston would love to have for a pennant run and beyond.

Steven Wright is wonderful right now, maybe the temporary ace, but knuckleballs are fickle. He may or may not keep it up all year.

In the meantime, Boston can be confident with Price and, hopefully, Rodriguez.

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