GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels blanked Wisconsin, 4-0, Monday in the opener of a three-game series before 2,946 fans at Fox Cities Stadium.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Kernels.

Sam Gibbons (2-2) went six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits for the victory. He struck out five and walked four.

Luke Bard went two scoreless innings for the Kernels in relief, allowing two hits while striking out two and walking one. Trevor Hildenberger worked a perfect ninth inning.

Nick Gordon had two hits and two RBIs for the Kernels. Jorge Fernandez and Tanner English both collected two hits. Fernandez scored two of the team's four runs.

Zack Larson broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI double to put the Kernels ahead 1-0. Larson's 14th double and 38th RBI rolled to the wall in left-center and scored Alex Real, who walked to begin the inning.

The Kernels added a run in the seventh inning to take a 2-0 lead. Gordon's infield RBI single drove in Fernandez. Fernandez singled with one out, advanced to second when Rafael Valera walked and reached third on a wild pitch.

Cedar Rapids pushed across two more runs in the ninth inning, doubling its lead to 4-0. Fernandez tripled to right field with one out and scored on a wild pitch. Valera followed with a single, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on Gordon's RBI single to right field.

Luis Ortega (1-6) started for the Timber Rattlers and allowed one run on three hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked two, taking the loss. Angel Ventura struck out seven over 4 2/3 innings in relief, allowing three runs on six hits.

The game was delayed 58 minutes by rain.

The series at Wisconsin continues at 12:05 p.m. Tuesday with lefthander Luke Westphal (0-0, 9.00) starting for the Kernels.

KERNELS (4): English, cf, 5 0 2 0, Gordon, ss, 5 0 2 2, Corcino, rf, 5 0 0 0, Real, dh, 3 1 1 0, Larson, lf, 3 0 1 1, Doe, c, 4 0 0 0, White, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Fernandez, 1b, 4 2 2 0, Valera, 2b, 3 1 1 0. Totals 36 4 9 3.

WISCONSIN (0): Diaz, cf, 3 0 0 0, Castillo, ss, 4 0 2 0, Rubio, rf, 3 0 0 0, DeMuth, dh, 4 0 1 0, Matos, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Neuhaus, 2b, 4 0 0 0, Leal, c, 2 0 0 0, Sharkey, 1b, 3 0 1 0, Meyer, lf, 2 0 0 0. Totals 29 0 4 0.

Kernels      000 100 102 - 4 9 0

Wisconsin  000 000 000 - 0 4 0

Gibbons, Bard (7), Hildenberger (9) and Doe. Ortega, Ventura (5), Lieser (9) and Leal. W - Gibbons (2-2). L - Ortega (1-6). 2B - Larson (14). 3B - Fernandez (2). SB - English 2 (23), Larson (9), Gordon (17), Meyer (3). T - 2:56 (58 minute delay). A - 2,946.