LaMonte Wade stays hot at plate, Pat Stashak strong on mound in Kernels win at Burlington

BURLINGTON — The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored early and often in a 7-3 win Monday night over the Burlington Bees at Community Field.

The Kernels (8-4) continually nicked Burlington starting pitcher Joe Gatto, for a run each in the first and second innings, for four runs in the third and another run in the fourth. That 6-0 edge was more than enough for C.R. starting pitcher Cody Stashak, who won his first Midwest League start by allowing just three hits and a run in six innings.

Stashak, sent to town from extended spring training last week, didn't walk any batters and struck out five. Michael Theofanopoulos and Nick Anderson finished up.

Rafael Valera went 3-for-5 for the Kernels, while LaMonte Wade went 2-for-4 with an RBI, extending his hitting streak to all 12 games so far this season.

His batting average is an obscene .409. A.J. Murray, Zander Wiel and Jermaine Palacios each drove in two runs for Cedar Rapids, which travels right back to Burlington for an 11:30 a.m. game Tuesday.