Players come, players go and the Cedar Rapids Kernels keep winning.

The Kernels scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Monday night and trimmed the Clinton Lumber Kings, 4-3, before 2,026 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Cedar Rapids has the best record in the Midwest League at 65-39, despite having 44 different players in uniform this season (45 if you count Minnesota Twins pitcher Mike Pelfrey, who appeared here on a rehab assignment).

Only 10 players from the 25-man roster that reported here in April are still with the club, with many of them promoted to the next level in the Twins organization, yet Manager Jake Mauer and his staff find a way to keep winning ballgames.

"I think it has to do with those guys in there, the guys who have been here from the start," said Mauer, gesturing toward the clubhouse after the Kernels collected their fourth straight victory. "We get in situations, we expect to do some good things. We expect to compete.

"When things get tight we don't panic, and I think that has a lot to do with the kids who have been here from the start."

Brian Gilbert, a 20-year-old relief pitcher from Toms River, N.J., joined the Kernels last week and collected his second save Monday night with a scoreless ninth inning. He's been on the fast track this season after being selected in the seventh round of the 2013 draft in June from Seton Hall.

He spent a few days at a mini-camp in Fort Myers, was sent to Elizabethton in the Rookie Appalachian League and flew into Cedar Rapids a week ago to join the Kernels. He's the first member of the 2013 draft class to don a Kernels uniform and he's gotten off to a good start.

He's gone from Seton Hall to Fort Myers to Elizabethton to Cedar Rapids, all in less than two months.

"Up here is where I wanted to be. I'm embracing it," said Gilbert. "I'm taking advantage of every opportunity I get. I'm going to run with it as long as I can."

The Kernels have used 24 different minor league pitchers this year. Several of their best relief pitchers have been promoted to Fort Myers in the Florida State League, but new guys keep showing up and taking their place.

"I'm extremely happy," said Gilbert. "Pitching in the big leagues has been my dream my entire life. The sooner I get there, the better. I'm trying to make everybody proud back home. Hopefully I get there (the major leagues) as soon as possible."

Although Gilbert grew up in New Jersey, he did not root for the Yankees, Mets or Phillies. "I was a Red Sox fan growing up. I was. In New Jersey," he said with a smile. "A few of my friends were Mets fans. They hate the Yankees as well. It was easy to get along with them."

Gilbert is a Twins fans now. He's modeling his third different uniform this season and has been pitching practically non-stop since preseason drills began at Seton Hall in January, but he's loving it.

"It's a lot of pitching, but it's a lot of fun at the same time," he said. "Yeah, you have your aches and pains, but you're just going to go through it. Just pitching in a stadium like this, all that pain goes away."

Mauer is happy to have Gilbert in the bullpen.

"Gilbert has a been a nice addition. He's going to help us," said Mauer. "He's confident. He knows himself. He doesn't try to overthrow or try to do too much. Keeps the ball down.

"And he's not scared of the moment," said Mauer. "I think that's the biggest thing."

Cedar Rapids grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run double by Max Kepler. Clinton pulled within 2-1 i the fourth inning and took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning on an unusual play.

The Lumber Kings had runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth when Kernels starter Jose Berrios uncorked a wild pitch to let the runner from third trot home. Another run scored on the play when Kernels catcher Tyler Grimes committed a throwing error trying to nail a guy at third base.

Turnabout was fair play, and the Kernels got two gift runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth. Kepler scored the tying run on a wild pitch after reaching on an error, and Travis Harrison scored the go-ahead run to make it 4-3 when the Clinton second baseman unwisely threw home on an infield chopper.

Alex Muren (6-1) pitched two scoreless innings and got the victory.

The Kernels begin a four-day commuter series at Burlington Tuesday night at 6:30.

CLINTON (3): McGruder, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Morales, cf, 4 0 1 0, Marte, pr, 0 0 0 0, Pizzano, lf, 4 0 0 0, Lara, 3b, 5 0 0 0, Littlewood, c, 4 0 2 0, Ard, 1b, 4 1 1 0, Guerrero, rf, 2 1 0 1, Lopes, dh, 3 1 1 0, Peguero, ss, 4 0 1 0. Totals 34 3 7 1.

KERNELS (4): Murphy, cf, 5 1 1 0, Polanco, ss, 2 1 0 0, Gonzales, 1b, 4 0 1 0, Walker, rf, 4 0 1 0,l Kepler, lf, 3 1 1 2, Harrison, 3b, 4 1 2 0, Grimes, c, 2 0 0 0, Licon, 2b, 4 0 0 1, Pineda, dh, 4 0 2 0. Totals 32 4 8 3.

Clinton     000 102 000 - 3 7 1
Kernels     200 000 02x - 4 8 2

Garcia, Mieses (6), Ogando (8) and Littlewood. Berrios, Muren (7), Gilbert (9) and Grimes. W - Muren (6-1). L - Ogando (0-2). S - Gilbert (2). 2B - Littlewood (13), Lopes (11), Kepler (8), Pineda (5), Walker (24). 3B - Ard (1), Littlewood (1). SB - Polanco (2), Walker (8). E - Ard (11), Berrios (3), Grimes (5). T - 2:28. A - 2,026.