Record heat greets Angels in Baltimore

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It is so hot in Baltimore, where the Angels opened a three-game series Friday.

How hot? Well, depends on whom you ask, and when. But the National Weather Service said it has never been hotter in Baltimore than it was Friday, when the downtown high of 107 degrees tied a record set in 1936. And the late-afternoon temperature at the airport was 105. That equals the highest temperature since record keeping began in 1871

But wait, it gets worse.

The heat index, which takes into account the temperature as well as 48% humidity, was 120.

“The temperature on the field,” Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said, “is 135. That’s what the grounds crew told us.”

Here are the players lucky enough to get to play in that heat Friday:

Angels

2B -- Maicer Izturis

RF -- Torii Hunter

DH -- Bobby Abreu

LF -- Vernon Wells

3B -- Alberto Callaspo

SS -- Erick Aybar

1B -- Mark Trumbo

CF -- Mike Trout

C -- Jeff Mathis

P -- Ervin Santana

Baltimore Orioles

SS -- J.J. Hardy

RF -- Nick Markakis

CF -- Adam Jones

C -- Matt Wieters

1B -- Derrek Lee

DH -- Luke Scott

3B -- Mark Reynolds

LF -- Felix Pie

2B -- Blake Davis

P -- Alfredo Simon

-- Kevin Baxter in Baltimore