Whitecaps Score Two Late, Beat Loons

MIDLAND, Mich. - For the first time since Opening Day, the Great Lakes Loons took the field at Dow Diamond. The West Michigan Whitecaps (9-3) spoiled the Loons (3-9) homecoming with a 5-4 victory on Friday, paced by right-handed starting pitcher Matt Manning.
Great Lakes right-handed starting pitcher Max Gamboa only made 30 pitches and two outs before being taken out of the game. West Michigan jumped to an early one-run edge in the top of the first on a walk drawn by Joey Morgan.
The Whitecaps tallied two more runs for a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Luke Burch singled to score Cole Peterson and Garrett McCain drove in Burch on a line drive single to left field. Burch was the star for West Michigan going 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Right-handed reliever Dan Jagiello, Gamboa's replacement, allowed two runs on three hits and one walk in 3.1 innings of work. The 22-year-old struck out three batters.
Through the first three innings, Manning had a no-hitter intact, allowing just one walk. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Detroit Tigers top pick in the 2016 MLB Draft was pulled. He allowed three runs on two hits and three walks. Of his 11 outs made, 10 were strikeouts. 
Brandon Montgomery scored the first run for the Loons on a two-RBI single, scoring Nick Yarnall and Carlos Rincon and advancing Romer Cuadrado to third base. Moments later, Cuadrado stole home to tie the game, 3-3. 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Great Lakes took a 4-3 lead as Brayan Morales crossed home plate on a single off the bat of Nick Yarnall. The Whitecaps stole the lead back on Burch's RBI triple and a sacrifice fly from Colby Bortles, scoring Burch to take a 5-4 edge in the top of the eighth inning against Devin Hemmerich (BS, 1; L, 0-1).
Brandyn Sittinger (W, 2-0) struck out six batters in 3.1 innings pitched for West Michigan. John Hayes (SV, 1) was nearly perfect over the final two frames, allowing just one baserunner.
The Loons return to Dow Diamond at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday for the second game of a three-game series against the Whitecaps. Right-hander Riley Ottensen (0-0, 7.36 ERA) is set to pitch for Great Lakes against right-hander Jesus Rodriguez (0-0, 4.50 ERA) of West Michigan.
The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team's home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.