The Cedar Rapids Kernels jumped all over the Burlington Bees Friday night, scoring six runs over the first two innings and then holding on to top the Bees 7-1, securing their eighth straight win to start the second half of the Midwest League baseball season.

A crowd of 3,707 at Veterans Memorial Stadium saw the Kernels’ win on “Halfway to Christmas” night, but it was the Kernels who received a gift from their parent organization, the Minnesota Twins, Friday night.

The Kernels learned that Twins starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey will be suiting up for Cedar Rapids on Monday for a rehabilitation start. Pelfrey has been on the Twins’ 15-Day Disabled List with a strained back and is hoping to rejoin the Twins’ rotation July 6.

It will be the first time the Kernels have hosted a Major League rehab assignment for one of their own organization’s players since Angels’ pitcher Ken Hill made an appearance for the Kernels in 1998.

Kernels third baseman Travis Harrison provided much of the offensive firepower early in the Kernels’ win. Harrison hit a two-run double to right field in the Kernels’ first inning and lifted a two-run  home run over the row of advertising signs that sits beyond the right field wall in the second inning to put Cedar Rapids up 6-0.

Both big hits were to the opposite field for the righthanded hitter.

“He gave me a couple of fastballs out over the plate I could do something with,” said Harrison. “I hit it (the home run ball) good. I have to give some credit to the wind, but I hit it pretty good.”

Kernels Manager Jake Mauer added, “When he’s going pretty good, he hits the ball that way.”

Adam Brett Walker accounted for a pair of runs in the first inning, as well, driving in Harrison, along with himself with a long home run to left-center field.

“He was ready for it. Turned on it pretty good,” Mauer said of Walker’s drive.

J.D. Williams led off the first inning with a single and scored on Harrison’s double. Williams also got the scoring started with a one-out single in inning two, and scored on Harrison’s home run.

Kernels starting pitcher Josue Montanez held the Bees without a hit through three innings on his way to five shutout innings of work. Burlington managed only two hits against the lefty.

Harrison was also quick to credit his team’s starting pitcher.

“Montanez was throwing well," he said. "He threw a ton of strikes. When you’ve got a guy throwing well like that, you put a couple of runs on the board and go to the finish.”

Montanez was making just his second start for the Kernels after working out of the Cedar Rapids bullpen through the first half of the season.

“I was happy he went after people,” said Mauer. “His previous outing he was just kind of tentative.”

Hudson Boyd made his first relief appearance for the Kernels this season, entering the game in relief of Montanez in the sixth inning. He gave up one unearned run in two innings.

Madison Boer made his first appearance for the Kernels since joining the pitching staff earlier this week. He gave up two quick singles to start the Bees’ eighth, but escaped without allowing a run.

Steve Gruver closed out the Bees, striking out two hitters in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Kernels swept the four-game series with Burlington and will host the Peoria Chiefs for three games starting with a 6:35 game at Perfect Game Field Saturday night.

BURLINGTON (1): Moesquit, 3b, 4 0 2 0, Soto, ss, 3 0 0 0, Ray, lf, 4 0 1 0, Hinkle, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Bolaski, dh, 4 1 1 0, Bemboom, c, 4 0 0 0, Ross, 2b, 3 0 1 1, Clarke, cf, 3 0 0 0, Cayones, rf, 3 0 1 0. Totals 32 1 6 1.

KERNELS (7): Williams, lf, 4 2 2 0, Goodrum, ss, 4 1 1 0, Harrison, 3b, 4 2 2 4, Hicks, 1b, 4 0 1 0, Walker, rf, 3 1 2 2, Kepler, dh, 3 0 0 0, Licon, 2b, 4 0 0 0, Arias, c, 3 1 1 0, Pineda, cf, 3 0 2 0. Totals 32 7 11 6.

Burlington  000 000 100 - 1  6 1
Kernels      420 001 00x - 7 11 1

Crowley, Adams (7), R.Powell (8) and Bemboom. Montanez, Boyd (6), Boer (8), Gruver (9) and Arias. W-Montanez (2-1). L-Crowley (6-3). 2B-Bolaski (10, Ross (2), Goodrum (16), Harrison (23), Hicks (26), Arias (3). HR-Walker (12), Harrison (13). SB-Soto (10), Williams (14). E-Bemboom (6), Hicks (8). T-2:28. A-3,707.