Minnesota Twins General Manager Terry Ryan planned to keep a close eye on Chad Christensen during his visit to Cedar Rapids this week to watch the Kernels.

Ryan liked what he saw Sunday afternoon.

Christensen belted a 410-foot home run to center field to snap a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning and give the Kernels a 4-3 victory over Burlington before 2,576 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Christensen, the Cedar Rapids native who returned home to enhance his pro career, is hitting a solid .289 with four home runs and 23 games while helping the Kernels as a first baseman and outfielder.

The Twins grabbed Christensen, 23, in the 25th round of the 2013 draft following his all-Big Ten career at the University of Nebraska, where he played the infield and outfield.

"One of the things that I think we were impressed with when he came out of Nebraska was his ability to have some versatility for a club," Ryan said Sunday. "He's got strength and he's got speed. He's got strength in his bat.

"He can play a number of spots, including center field, which is pretty good."

Christensen has 14 stolen bases, which leads the Kernels. He also ranks among the team leaders in batting average, home runs, RBIs and runs scored.

"When he showed up last year after signing, he made a good impression and then in spring training (this year)," said Ryan. "He's got the type of makeup that you want to have him on your club."

Cedar Rapids Manager Jake Mauer became a big fan after seeing Christensen in spring training in Florida this year.

"I'm sure Jake was pleased when he did come here, and I think he's even more pleased with what he sees in the results," said Ryan. "He's just been a good player on this team, home town or not.

"That's a little bit more pressure for a kid to come in here and play in front of your home town. He's handled it quite well.

"In fact," said Ryan, "he might be the most consistent guy we've had on this club. Not that I've been around much, but I read those things - the reports and that stuff."

Burlington jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second inning against Kernels bonus baby Kohl Stewart, thanks partly to a throwing error, but Stewart threw blanks the rest of his afternoon and the Kernels got back in the game.

Mitch Garver socked his seventh homer to tie the game, 3-3, in the fourth inning. It stayed that way until Christensen belted his shot over the 407-foot sign in center field.

"A fastball right down the middle," he said. "Right where I like them."

Christensen had been snakebit during his first three at-bats. He hit a line drive that Burlington pitcher Clint Sharp snagged and turned into a double play, he hit a hot smash that the Burlington third baseman grabbed and turned into a twin-killing, and he hit a foul popup near the Kernels bullpen and was retired on a sensational running catch by Bees first baseman Brandon Bayardi.

His luck turned dramatically in his final at-bat.

"I wasn't worried about being 0-for-3 or anything like that," said Chrisensten while signing autographs with the rest of his teammates after the game. "I got a good pitch to hit and I tried to put a good swing on it."

Christensen had a chance to speak with Ryan at the ballpark Sunday.

"That's the first time I've met him," said Christensen. "I talked to him a little bit about some guys at Nebraska. It's nice to have him in town for a few days."

Christensen said they did not talk about a possible promotion to the Florida State League this season.

"I'll try to play the best I can and let all of that other stuff take care of itself," he said. "I'm enjoying my time here. I'm just trying to put together a consistent season."

Stewart (1-2, 2.76 ERA) left the mound after six innings Sunday and got a no-decision. He allowed only one earned run on five hits, with four strikeouts and no walks.

The Kernels (27-30) and Bees (27-28) finish their series Monday at 12:05 p.m. at the stadium.

BURLINGTON (3): Eaves, 2b, 4 0 0 0, Hinshaw, cf, 3 0 1 0, Fish, lf, 4 0 0 0, Aguilera, dh, 3 1 0 0, Bayardi, 1b, 4 1 2 0, Cayones, rf, 4 1 2 1,Rosa, 3b, 3 0 0 1, McGee, c, 2 0 0 0, Salcedo, ss, 2 0 0 0. Totals 29 3 5  2.

KERNELS (4): Walker, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Vielma, ss, 3 0 1 1, Christensen, 1b, 4 1 1 1, Garver, c, 4 2 3 1, Haar, 3b, 3 0 2 0, Kanzler, cf, 3 0 0 1, Licon,lf, 3 0 0 0, Thomas, rf, 2 0 0 0, Vavra, dh, 2 1 1 0. Totals 28 4 9 4.

Burlington   030 000 000 - 3 5 1
Kernels       011 100 01x - 4 9 1

Sharp, Foss (7) and McGee. Stewart, Wilson (7), Van Steensel (9) and Garver. W - Wilson (2-0). L - Foss (1-4). S - Van Steensel (4). 2B - Vavra. HR - Garver (7), Christensen (4). SB - Salcedo (8), Hinshaw (18), Kanzler (10), Thomas (3). E - Rosa (17), Licon (7). T - 2:25. A - 2,576.