APPLETON, Wis. - Nick Burdi can breathe a little easier now after making his second appearance for the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night.

Burdi pitched a scoreless inning in relief for the Kernels and struck out three batters, a far cry from his first appearance last week for Cedar Rapids when he walked four straight batters and helped blow a 4-0 lead.

Wisconsin defeated the Kernels, 5-3, Thursday despite the encouraging work by Burdi, a second-round draft pick this year who got a $1.2 million bonus from the Minnesota Twins.

Kernels starter Ryan Eades (5-8) gave up five runs in five innings and the Kernels were not able to recover.

Ryan Walker went 3-for-4 for Cedar Rapids, which fell to 35-48 for the season. Zack Granite had two hits.

Cedar Rapids hosts Beloit Friday on a special 4th of July night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. There will be fireworks after the game and fans will be invited to stay at the ballpark and watch the municipal fireworks display as well.

The game was played before 4,214 fans at Fox Cities Stadium.

KERNELS (3): Granite, cf, 5 0 2 0, Vavra, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Christensen, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Haar, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Kanzler, rf, 3 1 0 0, Williams, dh, 3 1 1 1, Murphy, lf, 2 0 1 0, Altobelli, c, 4 0 1 0, Walker, ss, 4 1 3 1. Totals 32 3 8 3.

WISCONSIN (5): Davis, cf, 3 0 1 0, McFarland, 2b, 4 0 0 1, Ratterree, rf, 2 0 1 0, Coulter, c, 4 0 1 1, Brennan, 3b, 4 2 2 1, Neda, 1b, 3 1 2 0, Garcia, lf, 3 1 0 0, Pena, dh, 3 0 0 0, Ortega, ss, 4 1 1 2. Totals 30 5 8 5.

Kernels     010 011 000 - 3 8 0
Wisconsin   040 010 00x - 5 8 3

Eades, Burdi (6), Bixler (7), Van Steensel (8) and Altobelli. Alexander, Williams (6) and Coulter. W - Alexander (5-3). L - Eades (5-8). S -Williams (3). 2B - Williams (9), Neda 2 (11), Ortega (12). HR - Brennan (9). SB - Walker (5), Davis (22). E - Coulter (7), Brennan (18), Ortega (23). T - 2:46. A - 4,214.