Written by Al Ciammiachella

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Around the Farm is back after a little travel-related hiatus. I was in Cleveland this past weekend watching the Indians sweep the Orioles, then took in a game at beautiful Huntington Park on Monday morning before driving back to the DC-area yesterday.  So after about a thousand miles of driving (literaly, look it up), $250 or so in gas and 17+ hrs in the car later, I have to ask myself: was it worth it?  Was it worth driving all the way to Cleveland to watch the first-place Indians sweep the Orioles? Was it worth it to go and sit in the social suite with Pauly C, Peek and Adam Burke on a sunny/rainy/sunny/rainy Saturday? Was it worth it to drink some Elliot Ness on tap? Was it worth it to finally get to see Huntington Park, one of the best venues in all of minor league baseball?

Yeah, it was definitely worth it.  And I'll be doing it again and again throughout the summer.  I'll see you at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, or at Local Heroes before/afterwards.

With that public service announcement out of the way, let's get back to business and take a look Around the Farm. As always, the positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday's games:

• Scott Barnes, SP-COL: 5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 K, 5 BB. So-so AAA debut for Barnes, who was called up to replace Jenmar Gomez. He limited the damage, but the 5 walks are of concern. Let's hope it was nerves and he's better the next time out for the Clippers.
• Cord Phelps, 2B-COL: 1-2, 2B, 2 BB. Phelps snapped out of an 0-11 skid with a double, one of just 5 hits for the Clippers yesterday in a 4-2 loss.
• Brett Brach, SP-AKR: W (1-0), 6 IP, 2 H, 4 K, BB. Brach had an impressive AA debut filling in for Barnes, allowing just 3 baserunners and no runs. He'll likely be headed back to Kinston after the spot start, but the Akron coaching staff will remember this outing down the road.
• Bryan Price, RP-AKR: 2 IP, 2 K, BB. Price rebounded after a disasterous outing to put up zeroes on the scoreboard, facing just 7 batters in the process.
• John Drennen, RF-AKR: 1-4, HR (3), RBI, R, K. Drennen is now hitting .324/.444/.676 on the year with 3 HR and 8 RBI
• Matt Lawson, 3B-AKR: 3-4, 2 CS. Lawson has hit in 3 of his last 4 games (5-13) to raise his average to .292.
• Drew Pomeranz, SP-KIN: 4 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 5 K, 3 BB.  You see!  He's not a machine! He's a man!! Pomeranz was merely mortal yesterday, giving up his first earned runs of the season and allowing three walks. He now has 22 K in 15 IP, and an ERA of 1.80
• Preston Guilmet, RP-KIN: IP, 3 K. Following the lead of "Mr. K" Corey Burns, Guilmet struck out the side in order in the 9th for the K-Tribe. 
• Justin Toole, 2B-KIN: 4-5, 4 RBI, SB. Toole is off to a hot start for the K-Tribe, as he's hitting .435 (10-23) with 3 SB on the young season.
• Adam Abraham, 3B-KIN: 2-5, 2B, R, K. Abraham has been the most consistent hitter in the Kinston lineup this year, and boasts an impressive .314/.432/.629 line so far in 2011.
• Roberto Perez, C-KIN: 1-2, 2 BB, R. The defensive superstar is hitting just .200 for Kinston, but does have a .351 OBP. He has a good approach at the plate, he just needs to work on making more consistent contact.
• Bo Greenwell, LF-KIN: 1-3, RBI, 2 BB, R, SB, CS. Greenwell did a little of everything for Kinston at the plate and on the bases yesterday. He's traditionally a hot starter, and is having another solid April with a .297 average.