The Cedar Kernels got a good look at the best team in the Midwest League Friday night.

Too good, in fact.

The Quad Cities River Bandits spanked the Kernels, 10-3, before 2,439 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Kernels had not allowed more than six runs in a game this season, but the River Bandits scored six times in the first three innings and proceeded to the easy victory from there.

Quad Cities raised its record 28-7 for a winning percentage of .800, by far the best mark in the league. The Kernels fell to 21-13, which is the second-best mark in the MWL.

The River Bandits and Kernels stand 1-2 in the Western Division standings, but they are now 6 1/2 games apart.

Quad Cities pushed across three runs in the top of the second inning. The Kernels responded with a three-spot of their own in the bottom of the second, but the River Bandits scored three more times in the top of the third and the rout was on.

Blake Schmit, who joined the Kernels this week from Extended Spring Training, socked a two-run triple in the second inning with a long drive to center field. Trey Vavra continued his good hitting for Cedar Rapids, going 2-for-4 and raising his average to .333.

Mott Hyde went 4-for-5 for Quad Cities. Thomas Lindauer collected three RBIs for the winners. Jason Martin and Bryan Muniz drove in two runs for the visitors.

Cedar Rapids pitchers walked 10 batters in the game to make life a lot easier for Quad Cities. The Kernels have received consistently good pitching this season and had the best ERA in the league at 2.35 when the night began, but the staff struggled against the River Bandits.

The River Bandits also have a good pitching staff with a 2.39 ERA when the game began, the second-best mark in the league behind the Kernels. The River Bandits are also hitting a league-best .270 as a team, compared to .238 for Cedar Rapids.

Kernels starting pitcher Michael Cederoth was touched for six runs (five earned) in three innings.

The River Bandits have a 3-1 lead in the series against Cedar Rapids this season. The two teams meet again Saturday at 5:05 p.m.

QUAD CITIES (10): Martin, lf, 4 0 1 2, Ritchie, c, 5 1 0 0, Fisher, cf, 5 0 0 0, Hyde, 2b, 5 2 4 0, Tanielu, 3b, 4 2 1 0, Hernandez, dh, 3 2 0 1, Bottger, rf, 2 2 1 1, Muniz, 1b, 2 1 1 2, Lindauer, ss, 3 0 1 3. Totals 33 10 9 9.

KERNELS (3): English, cf, 3 0 0 0, Gordon, s, 4 0 0 0, Vavra, 1b, 4 0 2 0, Murphy, lf, 4 0 1 0, Larson, rf, 3 1 0 0, Fernandez, dh, 4 1 1 0, Schmit, 3b, 4 1 1 2, Silva, c, 4 0 1 0, Kelly, 2b, 4 0 1 1. Totals 34 3 7 3.

Quad Cities    033 010 201 - 10 9 1
Kernels          030 000 000 -   3 7 3

McNitt, Comer (5), Bostick (6) and Ritchie. Cederoth, Clay (4), Irby (7), Theofanopoulos (8) and Silva. W - Comer. L - Cederoth (1-3). S - Bostick. 2B - Muniz (3), Hyde (14), Lindauer (1), Kelly (4), Murphy (6). 3B - Schmitt (1). E - Muniz (3), Cederoth (1), Vavra (2), Kelly (3). T - 3:01. A - 2,439.