DETROIT -- The Tigers may not have won with Kyle Lobstein on the mound Monday but they can certainly consider what he's done overall as a win.
The Tigers dropped to 23-16 after a tough 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers (14-25) Monday night at Comerica Park.
Lobstein took the loss and is now 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA this season after allowing three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out three in 6 2/3 innings.
"Did a great job," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "Gave up a couple of home runs, but other than those two home runs, it wasn't a lot of hard-hit balls. A lot of ground balls, a lot of lazy fly balls. He really did a nice job."
Carlos Gomez, who recovered quickly from getting hit in the head with a 97 mile-per-hour pitch Sunday, hit an 0-2 pitch out of the park leading off the game.
The other home run was from Aramis Ramirez, who led off the fourth with a first-pitch home run.
"A couple pitches I'd like to have back," Lobstein said. "Overall, I felt like I was pretty comfortable throughout the game, changing speeds on them. Obviously you've got a little different result but overall, I was pretty pleased with tonight."
It's safe to ask, where would the Tigers be without Lobstein?
When Justin Verlander went on the DL right before the season started, Lobstein ended up driving from Lakeland to Detroit instead of to Toledo.
"Lobstein's done a great job for us, so that's also really nice to see him get some invaluable experience, just grow as a pitcher, being out there," Verlander said before the game.
Although last week Lobstein had a rough outing against a Minnesota Twins team that has dominated left-handers, giving up six runs on seven hits in just 2 1/3 innings, he didn't let it linger.
"Just like a hitter, you have a bad night at the plate, the next day it's a beautiful thing, you get to come out the next day," catcher James McCann said. "Same thing for a pitcher. You have a bad outing, just come out the next time and start over."
That's the thing about Lobstein.
For a young pitcher, he has a good sense of who he is and the kind of pitcher he is.
Lobstein is not a hard-thrower like David Price, so he relies on movement and deception.
On Monday, Lobstein was able to use his breaking ball more effectively than he did against Minnesota.
"The change-up played a lot tonight," Lobstein said. "I was pleased to see that, especially from last outing. I don't feel like I threw enough change-ups or even breaking balls."
Lobstein is also willing to ask some of the veterans for advice, especially when it comes to a pitch he's still working on, like the curveball.
"Trying to learn from some of the guys in here, like (Joakim) Soria," Lobstein said. "He's been showing me some stuff. It felt pretty good tonight. i was able to command it a little better."
Now all the Tigers need to do is score a bit more when Lobstein pitches.
They have managed just seven runs in Lobstein's four losses.
"He did a good job, gave us a chance to win," McCann said. "Anytime your starting pitcher does that, that's all you can ask for."
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