Orioles feasting on chilled dishes with home cooking (O's win 6-3)

The first-pitch temperature tonight at Camden Yards is 51 degrees, an increase of three from last night. Put away the parkas.

It will continue to climb through the weekend and into next week, but rain stays in the forecast for the duration of the 10-game homestand.

The Orioles are used to it. In fact, they seem to be thriving in miserable conditions.

They have the best home record in baseball at 8-1, compared to their 5-7 mark on the road. They're batting .299/.360/.493 at Camden Yards, ranking first in the majors in home average and first in the American League in on-base and slugging percentage.

Now check their road slash line of .247/.306/.433 in 12 games.

Check the locations, which include the heat in Arlington, Texas, and the climate-controlled dome at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

It was cold in Boston and chilly in Kansas City, but nothing like the frigid conditions in Baltimore. I've only found a wintry mix here. I've only contemplated wearing gloves and a ski mask here.

I've also weighed the pros and cons of replacing my chair with a space heater.

"Swinging and not making good contact in this weather does not get a good return," said manager Buck Showalter.

So there's the incentive!

"I think the weather plays a lot into it, pitchers not being able to feel the baseball as much," Showalter said.

Tyler Wilson served up a two-run homer to Todd Frazier last night in the first inning, but proceeded to retire nine of 10 batters.

"Tyler, I noticed last year we had a real bad weather game that he really had good command in. I think it was more of a wet night," Showalter said.

"It's tough to do, to watch a guy pitch and it looks like the conditions aren't even a factor. One of our players was talking about how much better Tampa Bay's breaking balls are there, inside there, with the grip. It just seems a lot crisper. They have good breaking balls as it is, but they're really crisper, it seems like, in Tampa."

Showalter wouldn't trade Camden Yards for The Trop, but he does envy the consistent conditions, how the Rays never have rainouts and doubleheaders at home.

"I think it might be the best place to pitch in our league," Showalter said. "Great foul ground, big alleys. They have great outfield defense. Conditions are the same every time you cock your arm. It's a heck of a place to develop pitching."

Update: Mike Wright dominated in the first inning, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts, his fastball topping out at 97 mph. But Melky Cabrera doubled with one out in the second and scored on Avisail Garcia's two-out triple to give Chicago a 1-0 lead in the mist.

Update II: The Orioles took a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning on a walk, error, fielder's choice that resulted in a rundown, an infield hit, Jonathan Schoop's two-run single with the bases loaded, a fielder's choice and throwing error and a single that resulted in an out at the plate.

Carlos Rodon retired the first 11 Orioles before Chris Davis singled in the fourth. He gave up three runs in the fifth, but only one earned. Jones led off the the walk and later got caught in a rundown between third and home. Nolan Reimold reached on an infield hit to load the bases and Schoop delivered his 200th career hit, which came while he was in a 4-for-38 slump.

Jimmy Rollins' throwing error after Joey Rickard grounded into a force at second base gave the Orioles a 3-1 lead. Manny Machado singled to right field, but Rickard was out at the plate.

Update III: Jose Abreu's RBI single in the sixth reduced the lead to 3-2. Todd Frazier walked with the count full to load the bases with one out - Wright go squeezed - and Melky Cabrera followed with a liner to Adam Jones.

Jones made the catch and fired to Matt Wieters, who applied the sweeping tag to end the inning and preserve the lead.

It didn't last long. Brad Brach replaced Wright and Brett Lawrie greeted him with a game-tying home run.

Brach had a 0.68 ERA in 13 1/3 innings before tonight.

Wright allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, with two walks and six strikeouts. He threw 90 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Update IV: Nolan Reimold lined a three-run homer over the out-of-town scoreboard in right field to give the Orioles a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Reimold is batting .355 with three home runs in 13 games.

Wieters and J.J. Hardy singled before Reimold delivered to break a 3-3 tie.

Update V: The Orioles defeated the White Sox 6-3 for their third victory in a row. They're 9-1 at home.

Brach was credited with the win despite the home run, and Zach Britton recorded his sixth save.