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Keuchel becomes MLB's first 9-game loser

Mike Carlson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

He's not the same pitcher from a year ago.

A lack of run support and one bad inning gave 2015 AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel the embarrassing distinction of becoming the first starter in the majors to reach nine losses.

The left-hander lost eight games all of last season.

Keuchel was stellar through four innings Sunday, striking out eight batters. But he didn't make it out of the fifth inning after he gave up five runs in a 5-0 Houston Astros loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

''I'm disappointed because Matt Moore was pretty much dominant while I was doing my job correctly,'' Keuchel told reporters, according to Dick Scanlon of The Associated Press. ''Then all of a sudden five runs were on the board.''

At this point last season, the lefty was one of the best pitchers in baseball.

However, entering Sunday's game (12 starts), he's a completely different beast.

Year 1st 13 starts IP SO ERA Opp. Slash
2015 7-2 94.2 72 1.90 .195/.248/.254
2016 3-9 82.2 72 5.44 .283/.341/.443

One of the more feared pitchers just a year ago, Keuchel only has three wins this season and has yet to make it past the eighth inning. Even then, he only completed eight innings once this year.

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