It took the visiting Dayton Dragons all of four batters Wednesday night to jump out to a 4-0 lead over the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

The first three Dragon hitters singled against Kernels starting pitcher Christian Powell and the fourth hitter, Jesse Winker, cleared the bases with a grand slam before Powell and the Kernels could record an out.

The Dragons didn’t stop there, either, as they went on to defeat the Kernels, 12-6, in front of a disappointed crowd of 2,009 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Powell left the game after completing just three innings, having given up six runs (all earned) on nine hits. He also walked three Dayton hitters.

“Just a very ugly day, all the way around,” is how Kernels Manager Jake Mauer described his team’s pitching performance.

Dayton’s lead grew to 7-0 before the Kernels scored twice in their half of the sixth inning.

J.D. Williams collected his second hit and was driven home on a double by Dalton Hicks. Hicks scored on Travis Harrison’s second single of the game to bring the Kernels within 7-2.

The Dragons answered right back with five more runs in the top of the seventh inning to build a 12-2 cushion.

The Kernels added an unearned run in their half of the seventh and three more runs in the ninth inning, fueled by hits from Jeremias Pineda, Williams and Hicks.

Williams led the Kernels with three hits. “He’s been doing a really nice job,” Mauer said. “Hicks just keeps driving in runs. Pineda off the (Disabled List) got a couple of hits tonight.”

In the end, however, it came down to pitching.

“It’s the same thing that we ran into that last week of the first half (of the season),” said Mauer. “If our starters don’t do the job, we’re in trouble.”

Dayton collected 18 hits.

The Kernels (53-34) will face Dayton (38-51) again Thursday night at Perfect Game Field at 6:35.

DAYTON (12): Amaral, cf, 3 2 1 0, Diaz, 2b, 6 2 3 1, Gelalich, rf, 6 2 3 0, Winker, lf, 5 1 1 4, Mejias-Brean, 1b, 5 1 5 3, Rahier, 3b, 5 0 1 0, Pigott, dh, 4 2 1 0, Hudson, c, 4 2 3 1, Valor, ss, 4 0 0 1. Totals 42 12 18 10.

KERNELS (6): Williams, lf, 5 2 3 1, Polanco, 2b, 4 0 0 0, Hicks, 1b, 5 1 2 2, Harrison, 3b, 4 0 2 1, Kepler, cf, 5 0 0 0, Walker, rf, 4 1 0 0, Goodrum, ss, 4 0 0 0, Quesada, c, 4 1 1 0, Pineda, dh, 4 1 2 1. Totals 39 6 10 5.

Romano, Chacin (7), Lorenzen (8), Adames (9), McMyne (9) and Hudson. Powell, Muren (4), Brewer (7), Hurlbut (9) and Quesada. W - Romano (6-7). L - Powell (2-3). 2B - Mejias-Brean 2 (22), Pigott (5), Hudson 2 (15), Hicks (28), Williams (12). HR - Winker (1). E - Diaz (6). T - 3:11. A - 2,009.