Cedar Rapids baseball fans should cherish every chance they get to see Stephen Gonsalves pitch for the Kernels, because the talented lefty probably won't be here much longer.

Gonsalves tossed a no-hitter for 6 2/3 innings Monday afternoon as the Kernels blanked Clinton, 5-0, before 2,345 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Gonsalves was touched for a two-out single in the seventh, got the next out with his 11th strikeout and called it a day after throwing 113 pitches.

Gonsalves raised his record to 6-1 and lowered his microscopic ERA to 1.15, leading to heavy speculation that his days in the Midwest League are probably numbered.

Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said he'd be surprised if Gonsalves is still with the club when the second half of the Midwest League season begins in three weeks.

"He's been impressive. Real impressive," said Mauer.

Gonsalves, who is just 20 years old, would welcome a promotion to Fort Myers in the Advanced Class A Florida State League, but so would everybody else on the team.

"I hope a promotion will come, but they know what's best for me right now," he said. "I've got stuff to work on down here and that's why I'm here."

Gonsalves anticipates riding the bus with the Kernels for their next series that begins Wednesday in South Bend, Ind., rather than being on a plane for Florida.

"I'd rather be in the air," he said, smiling, "but no, I think I'll be on the bus. I think I'll be here through the all-star game. Maybe I'll get out of here after that."

The Midwest League all-star game is scheduled for June 23 in Peoria, Ill.

Gonsalves, who stands 6-foot-5, has been working on his breaking ball and change-up, two pitches he threw effectively Monday along with a fastball that averaged 92 mph.

His change-up has become a superb pitch for him this season.

"Last year I played around with it a lot. It wasn't there like it is now," he said. "I'd be able to mix it in once per at-bat. Now I'm able to go twice to the hitter in the same at-bat.

"I think in the sixth inning I threw seven in a row. It's been there all this year for me."

Mauer thinks the change-up has been the key to his success this season.

"He's going to be a good one," said Mauer. "There's no doubt about it. If you can throw a change-up in the Midwest League, you're going to strike a bunch of people out."

Gonsalves walked four batters Monday, but went right after the next batter each time to avoid trouble.

"They're a pretty good hitting team and he made quick work of them," said Mauer. "He was on cruise control. No doubt about it."

Mauer predicts Gonsalves will be throwing his fastball at 94 to 96 mph in a few years, once he matures physically.

"I think he's going to have overpowering stuff," the skipper said. "It's going to make his breaking ball better. It's going to make his change-up better as well."

Mauer watched most of Monday's game on TV after being ejected in the third inning by home plate umpire Matt Bates. Kernels catcher Brett Doe was hit by a pitch, but Bates ruled that Doe was deliberately hit by the pitch and did not allow him to take first base.

Mauer objected and was tossed from the game for the first time this year. Batting coach Tommy Watkins ran the club in Mauer's absence.

The Kernels struck for three runs in the first inning and were never seriously threatened with Gonsalves and Randy LeBlanc on the mound.

LeBlanc tossed two scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts, giving the Kernels 13 whiffs for the day.

LeBlanc allowed two hits, making it a three-hit shutout.

Zack Larson and Edgar Corcino had two hits for Cedar Rapids (34-18).

Larson and Doe drove in two runs. Corcino had a double and triple.

The Kernels are idle Tuesday before beginning a three-game series at South Bend Wednesday night.

CLINTON (0): Fields, cf, 2 0 0 0, Ascanio, ss, 4 0 0 0, Mack, lf, 3 0 0 0, Brito, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Morales, rf, 4 0 1 0, DeCarlo, dh, 4 0 0 0, Mariscal, 3b, 4 0 2 0, Torres, c, 3 0 0 0, Wawoe, 2b, 3 0 0 0. Totals 31 0 3 0.

KERNELS (5): Schmit, 2b, 2 0 0 0, Gordon, ss, 5 2 1 0, Larson, lf, 2 1 2 2, Murphy, rf, 4 1 0 0, Fernandez, 1b, 4 0 0 0, White, 3b, 0 0 0 0, Doe, c, 4 0 1 2, Real, dh, 4 0 0 0, Corcino, cf, 3 1 2 0. Totals 28 5 6 4.

Clinton    000 000 000 - 0 3 0

Kernels    310 100 00x - 5 6 2

Medina, Pierce (3), Miller (6), Buchanan (8) and Torres. Gonsalves, LeBlanc (8) and Doe. W - Gonsalves (6-1). L - Medina (2-5). 2B - Larson 11), Corcino (2). 3B - Corcino (1). E - Gordon 2 (9). T - 2:44. A - 2,345.