BURLINGTON - Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Josue Montanez deserved better.

Montanez took the loss and worked just five innings as the Kernels fell, 3-1, to the Burlington Bees Wednesday night at Community Field.

But it’s hard to win games when the defense behind you allows opposing hitters four outs per inning. And that’s exactly what the Kernels defense did in four of the five innings Montanez (4-4) was on the mound.

The Kernels committed errors in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, and the Bees scored unearned runs in three of those stanzas.

Bees starting pitcher (and former Cedar Rapids Kernel) Ryan Crowley (9-5), on the other hand, shut the Kernels out for eight innings, benefiting from flawless fielding by his defense, while striking out eight.

Crowley allowed just three Kernels hits, doubles by Niko Goodrum in the fourth inning, Adam Brett Walker in the eighth and Joel Licon in the ninth. Crowley walked none.

Following Licon’s leadoff double in the ninth, Crowley was lifted by Bees Manager Jamie Burke in favor of Joseph Krehbiel.

Krehbiel walked Jeremias Pineda before striking out Goodrum.  Jorge Polanco singled to load the bases.

Krehbiel was lifted in favor of Chris O'Grady and Mike Gonzales drove Licon home with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Another pitching change brought in Austin Adams, but Walker grounded to first base, ending the Kernels’ threat and the game. Adams picked up the save.

“We made it awfully hard on ourselves,” Kernels Manager Jake Mauer lamented following the game. “It’s a shame. Montanez threw the ball good. We should have won that game one to nothing.

“This team over here (Burlington), they don’t create a whole lot of offense, but if you give them more chances, they’re going to beat you,” added Mauer. “They’re going to put the ball in play, they’re not going to strike out much. We can’t give them extra opportunities.”

Zach Wright got things going for the Bees with a double with one out in the second inning. With two outs, Chevy Clarke’s line drive to left field handcuffed Max Kepler and landed on the grass, allowing Wright to score the first run of the game.

Sherman Johnson doubled with one out the following inning. He stole third base and scored when catcher Jairo Rodriguez’s throw bounced in the dirt and landed in left field.

In the fifth inning, Angel Rosa led off with a single before Johnson’s ground ball bounced under the glove off Goodrum at second base. Rosa moved to third base on the error and scored on a slow ground ball by Pedro Toribio.

Tim Shibuya relieved Montanez to start the sixth inning. He worked three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out two batters.

The Kernels travel to Burlington Thursday for the third game of this commuter series. Game time is 6:30 pm.

KERNELS (1): Pineda, cf, 3 0 0 0, Goodrum, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Polanco, ss, 4 0 1 0, Gonzales, 1b, 3 0 0 1, Walker, rf, 4 0 1 0, Kepler, lf, 3 0 0 0, Grimes, dh, 3 0 0 0, Rodriguez, c, 3 0 0 0, Licon, 3b, 3 1 1 0. Totals 30 1 4 1.

BURLINGTON (3): Johnson, 3b, 3 1 2 0, Toribio, 2b, 3 0 0 1, Cayones, lf, 3 0 0 0, Hinkle, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Wright, c, 4 1 2 0, Cannizaro, dh, 3 0 0 0, Clarke, rf, 3 0 0 0, Good, cf, 3 0 0 0, Rosa, ss, 3 1 2 0. Totals 29 3 6 1.

Kernels      000 000 001 - 1 4 4
Burlington  011 010 00x - 3 6 0

Montanez, Shibuya (6) and Rodriguez. Crowley, Krehbiel (9), O'Grady (9), Adams (9) and Wright. W-Crowley (9-5). L-Montanez (4-4). Sv-Adams (1). 2B-Goodrum (19), Walker (25), Licon (8), Wright (2), Johnson (15). SB-Johnson (10), Cayones (3), Toribio 2 (25). S-Toribio. SF-Gonzales. E-Kepler (6), Rodriguez (2), Gonzales (1), Goodrum (22). T-2:30. A-1,091.