PHILADELPHIA -- One reunion got off to a great start, while another was anything but impressive, as new Philadelphia Phillies hitting coach Charlie Manuel saw his lineup score 11 runs on Wednesday -- eight of them against former Phillies star Cole Hamels.

Hamels got a hero's welcome back to Philadelphia then promptly got rocked, failing to record an out in the bottom of the third inning while giving up nine hits and two walks as the Phils beat the Chicago Cubs, 11-1. The standing ovation he received when he came to the plate in the top of the third didn't feel so great after giving up four runs.

"I'm thankful to the fans for their support but when you get your butt kicked, for two straight innings, I'm a little focused on that," Hamels said. "You can't keep putting up games like I've done the last two games. That's not the person I am and those aren't the expectations I hold on myself."

Hamels has totaled five innings and 12 runs over his last two starts, not long after coming off the injured list for an oblique issue. He says his mechanics are off, but perhaps Manuel's familiarity with his former ace had something to do with it. The 75 year old former World Series winning manager was hired by his old team on Tuesday to be their hitting coach for the playoff push.

"It's surprising," Hamels said of Manuel's return to the dugout. "He loves baseball and he's pretty good at it.

"He has a really good perspective. I have the utmost respect for him ... he was like a dad to us. You never want to disappoint him. He was such a good inspiration, even when you give up eight runs, or when you're 0 for 5 with 5 punch outs, he knew how to get you right the next day."

Whether or not Manuel had a chance to suggest any changes to players who'd been struggling at the plate, his mere presence in the dugout sparked a crowd that has long had a soft spot for the man who manged the 2008 championship team. The fans could be heard chanting "Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!" chants throughout the game at Citizens Bank Park.

"There was an incredible energy in the ballpark and rightfully so," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of Manuel, who replaced John Mallee after the team let him go on Tuesday. "Charlie has earned that kind of adulation over a long period of time.

"He certainly adds to that loose, relaxed vibe. He's laid back, he believes in our hitters. I think he's going to make sure that our hitters know that. And our hitters looked like they believed in themselves today. It's no surprise. He's a great influence on our group."

Hamels was certainly thinking of his own situation in praising Manuel. Ironically, it's what he learned under Manuel that might help the lefthander moving forward.

"It takes the tough love, from Philly, is what taught me how to do it," Hamels said of overcoming adversity.

Wednesday's loss dropped the Cubs into a tie for first place with the St. Louis Cardinals but technically they're the second wild card team right now, just .001 percentage point behind St. Louis. The Phillies are two games back of the wild card and have taken the first two games of the series -- which means no matter what happens in the finale on Thursday the Cubs have gone winless over their last 12 road series.

Manuel's Phillies helped continue a woeful trend for the visitors as now their starting pitching is showing leaks. Righty Kyle Hendricks gave up seven in his last start and veteran lefty Jon Lester is just one start removed from giving up nine earned runs - one more than Hamels' performance.

"I guess we're both competing who can suck the most," Hamels said sarcastically. "We don't expect to put up these type of numbers, especially every five days. These are the types of numbers you might put up once a season."

Bryce Harper homered twice for Philadelphia, but said Manuel wasn't responsible for the toe-tap he added while in the batter's box to help improve his timing at the plate. Harper said he didn't really interact with Manuel much during the game.

"I took him a cup of water because he was working so hard and everyone was [chanting] his name," Harper said. "But that was about it. I think Charlie's never seen a homer that he didn't like. It's fun to have him."

This has been the Dream Team versus Angola, the 49ers versus the Broncos, Pujols versus Lidge, Reagan versus Mondale.

The Yankees beat the Orioles 6-5 on Wednesday, finishing their season showdown with 16 consecutive victories and a 17-2 overall record. Along the way, the Yankees hit .303 against the Orioles, averaged 7.95 runs and mashed 61 home runs -- shattering the previous record for home runs against one team in a season.

Yes, it was a trouncing. Since teams started playing 19 intradivision games in 2001, this matches the best record for one team against another:

2019 Yankees vs. Orioles: 17-2
2013 Indians vs. White Sox: 17-2
2013 Rangers vs. Astros: 17-2
2006 Athletics vs. Mariners: 17-2

(In an earlier era, the 1986 Mets went 17-1 against the Pirates and the 1974 Braves went 17-1 against the Padres.)

The Yankees outscored the Orioles by 68 runs, their largest run differential against one opponent since 1956 (when they outscored the Washington Senators by 68 runs). Their total of 151 runs is the second highest for one team against an opponent in the divisional era (since 1969):

2017 Yankees vs. Orioles: 154 runs
2019 Yankees vs. Orioles: 151 runs
2002 Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: 146 runs
2016 Cubs vs. Reds: 143 runs

(Thanks to Michael Bonzagni of ESPN Stats & Information for research help.)

With the season series mercifully over, I thought it would be fun to look back at 10 of the top highlights (not so much fun for Orioles fans):

April 4: Gleyber Torres went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double and four RBIs in an 8-4 Yankees victory. The Orioles actually jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning off James Paxton, but the Yankees would rally behind four home runs. Torres homered off Alex Cobb in the third and hit a three-run shot off Mike Wright in the sixth.

April 6: Clint Frazier hit a three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to lift the Yankees to a 6-4 victory. Aaron Judge mashed two home runs off Dylan Bundy. Frazier's winner came off a 2-2 slider from Miguel Castro and dropped the Orioles to 4-4 on the season. "I just love the fight in our guys," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. "We've just had a couple tough pitches out of the pen recently." Oh, Brandon, little do you know what would unfold the rest of the season.

April 7: The Yankees mashed seven home runs in a 15-3 victory. Gary Sanchez hit three of them and Frazier had two more. The Yankees had not hit seven home runs in a road game since May 30, 1961, when Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris both went deep twice at Fenway Park.

May 15: The Yankees swept a doubleheader by scores of 5-3 and 3-1, hitting four home runs in the opener and one in the nightcap. All four in Game 1 came off David Hess, including two from Torres, who added another homer in the second game. "It's too many home runs. It's embarrassing," Orioles catcher Austin Wynns said. Hess would end up going 0-3 against the Yankees while serving up 13 home runs in 20 innings.

May 20: The Orioles led 7-6 entering the top of the ninth, but after a tying sacrifice fly, Sanchez belted a three-run home run off Mychal Givens to give the Yankees a 10-7 victory. It was a comedy of errors for the Orioles leading up to Sanchez's home run. Dwight Smith Jr. made a bad throw in the seventh when he fell for a fake tag-up, Joey Rickard threw to the wrong base in the ninth inning, Smith chucked the ball past the plate on the sac fly and catcher Pedro Severino misplayed a foul pop that preceded Luke Voit's two-out walk ahead of Sanchez's home run. Good times. "We are Yankees," Torres explained after the game. "We have a history, you know what I mean?"

(Maybe this is a good time to point out that the Orioles have won an AL East title more recently than the Yankees. Baltimore won in 2014 and the Yankees haven't won since 2012.)

May 22: The Yankees hit five home runs, including four off Dan Straily, in a 7-5 win. Torres went deep twice. At this point in the season, Torres had 12 home runs -- 10 against the Orioles. "There's definitely a pitching plan," Hyde said of his team's approach with Torres. "It's definitely not to throw the ball in the middle part of the plate."

Aug. 5: The score was tied 6-6 in the top of the eighth when Mike Ford hit a go-ahead home run off Paul Fry. Three batters later, Mike Tauchman hit a two-run blast, his second of the game, as the Yankees went yard five times in a 9-6 win. All the home runs overshadowed Jonathan Villar's hitting for the cycle for the Orioles. At this point, the Yankees had hit 32 home runs at Camden Yards -- a major league record for a visiting team. They would hit six more the next day and five more the day after that, finishing with 43.

Aug. 7: Kyle Higashioka went deep twice, Gio Urshela went deep twice and Cameron Maybin added a fifth home run in 14-2 rout. The two-homer games by Higashioka and Urshela made it 11 Yankees who had homered at least twice in a game against the Orioles. (Yes, that's another record for one team against another.) "We've had a lot of guys coming through for us here," Aaron Boone said in the understatement of the year.

Aug. 12: The Yankees swept another doubleheader, winning 8-5 (four home runs) and 11-8 (three home runs). Torres hit one in the first game and two more in the second. When he came up with runners at first and second in the eighth inning, the Orioles simply issued an intentional walk. Hey, you can see the reasoning: Torres had hit 13 home runs against the Orioles. "I just kind of had enough," Hyde said. "We're making him look like a first-ballot Hall of Famer." Torres would finish .394/.467/1.045 in 18 games against the Orioles with those 13 home runs and 20 RBIs, leaving Orioles announcer Gary Thorne at a loss for words:

Aug. 14: Sanchez hit the only home run in the final game between the teams, and the Yankees held on for the victory. Sanchez finished with 10 home runs in 14 games against Baltimore. "The funny thing is that we're not thinking about records or anything like that," Sanchez said. "We're trying to go out there and have good at-bats." Bundy summed up how the Orioles felt about things: "We don't have to play them anymore, so I guess that's a good thing."

Jamie Murray could face brother Andy in the men's doubles quarter-finals at the Cincinnati Masters after he and Neal Skupski defeated French pair Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

British duo Murray and Skupski beat the fifth-seeded Australian Open champions 6-3 6-3 in the second-round match.

Andy and Feliciano Lopez must defeat Americans Ryan Harrison and Jack Sock on Thursday to reach the last eight.

The Murray brothers played together at the Washington Open earlier in August.

Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy, 32, and Spanish partner Lopez were crowned champions at Queen's Club in June and beat fourth seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau in the first round.

The two-time Wimbledon champion made his singles comeback from hip surgery in Cincinnati on Monday, losing to Richard Gasquet.

INDIANAPOLIS – Defending event winner Brady Bacon and NASCAR star Kyle Larson lead the latest group of entries for the second annual Driven2SaveLives BC39 powered by NOS Energy Drink, set for Sept. 4-5 at The Dirt Track at IMS.

Alongside that pair of heavy-hitters, past NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series champions Christopher Bell, Jerry Coons, Jr. Dave Darland, Logan Seavey and Tanner Thorson have also filed their BC39 entries.

In total, 55 cars are now on the provisional entry list for the two-day crown jewel event.

Bacon, along with young gun Jason McDougal, are a part of the Broken Arrow, Okla. connection teamed with FMR Racing for the race. A two-time AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car champion, Bacon led the final nine laps to capture the inaugural event a year ago.

Three series champs in Bell, Seavey and Thorson lead an eight-car assault from the Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian stable, which also features May’s Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race winner Larson, Tanner Carrick, plus series rookie Jesse Colwell, Holley Hollan and Tucker Klaasmeyer.

Two-time series champs Coons and Darland are part of an all-star Petry Motorsports contingent that also features Kevin Thomas Jr., who led a race-high 30 laps and finished third in last year’s BC39 main event.

Justin Grant crossed the line seventh in the 2018 BC39 and has already won once this season at Gas City I-69 Speedway during Indiana Midget Week, one of 12 different winners in the first 21 events of this season.

USAC Western States Midget point leader Robert Dalby returns for his second BC39 appearance. Dalby has won each of the last two USAC Western States Midget feature events at Merced Speedway and Santa Maria Raceway in California.

Clauson/Marshall Racing has entered their core group of four full-time USAC competitors for the event: Tyler Courtney, Chris Windom, Zeb Wise and Andrew Layser.

Defending AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car champion Courtney leads all drivers with six NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget wins this season and has led the standings since the start of the year. His CMR teammate, Chris Windom, runs second in the standings.

Windom, the 2016 Silver Crown and 2017 National Sprint Car titlist, has won his first two USAC National Midget races over the past two months.

Wise runs fourth in the standings, with two victories to his credit during Pennsylvania Midget Week. He was victorious in last year’s Stoops Pursuit Race at the BC39.

Andrew Layser is in his first year for CMR and tops the rookie points by a commanding margin. He seeks to make his first BC39 feature start.

Michael Pickens, the winningest driver from New Zealand in the history of USAC National Midget racing with four wins, will roll with the RMS LLC team alongside teammate Thomas Meseraull, a nine-time winner on the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car trail.

David Prickett, the 2012 USAC Western States Dirt Midget champ, will drive for Neverlift Motorsports in his second BC39 appearance. Meanwhile, Trey Osborne, a veteran of Kenyon Midget racing and the Little 500 at Anderson, will drive the famed yellow No. 61 for Mel Kenyon, USAC’s winningest National Midget driver with 111 career victories.

Spencer Bayston, the 2017 USAC National Midget champion, is entered, along with reigning Jason Leffler Memorial winner Tyler Thomas, USAC sprint car winners Brent Beauchamp and Matt Westfall and USAC Western States Midget champion Shannon McQueen.

To view the complete entry list, advance to the next page.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Turn 3 Media LLC, the parent company of SPEED SPORT, and Riivet Inc., the parent company of hammer.tv and RacefeedX, have announced a strategic partnership with the goal of providing an industry-leading streaming media production service and delivery ecosystem.

The joint venture will leverage SPEED SPORT’s legendary brand and broad multi-media distribution, while Riivet will expand its proven streaming technology and fast-growing network of grassroots motorsports content partners to create an end-to-end media solution for promoters, content producers and race fans.

This new media ecosystem, dubbed “The SPEED SPORT Network,” will be anchored by an all-new SPEED SPORT TV streaming app available via major streaming platforms (e.g. Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, iOS, Android, etc.) and online at SPEEDSPORT.tv.

SPEED SPORT TV will showcase SPEED SPORT’s own productions, including the award-winning SPEED SPORT Presented by Hendrick Automotive Group, The Ralph Sheheen Show presented by Lucas Oil, exclusive live events, specials and more.

Additionally, SPEED SPORT TV will include the best on-demand and live content from across the entire network, which already stands at more than 5,000 hours of live and on-demand video from thousands of events, and hundreds of tracks across the country. SPEED SPORT TV will be a one-stop shop for the best grassroots motorsports action in the country.

For tracks, promoters and content producers, the SPEED SPORT Network will offer a proven, turn-key solution for broadcasting and marketing events to help tracks expand their audience and brand beyond the grandstands — driving additional revenues and sponsor value.

It will draw upon and grow its already-extensive network of content affiliates, a unique “pay it forward” equipment financing program, expert consulting and support, and its experience and brand credibility in motorsports television and streaming media.

Each content partner will have the option to have their own uniquely branded app, yet still be able to utilize SPEED SPORT branding — creating a universe of many individual channels and brands delivering content for niche audiences across all genres of motorsports.

“The SPEED SPORT Network really tears down the barriers that stand in the way of streaming media being an accessible yet professional and profitable tool for most promoters,” said Chris Graner, CEO and founder of Riivet Inc. “Whether it’s access to quality equipment, training and support, or marketing horsepower and brand equity, SPEED SPORT Network brings it all together.”

“Our approach is to focus on the grassroots racing — to create the largest possible network of content producers by empowering, rather than competing with them,” said Joe Tripp, CEO and co-founder of Turn 3 Media, LLC. “For promoters and producers, this will result in new and stronger streams of revenue — and more value for sponsors and racers. For fans, this means better access to the widest variety possible of exciting content, both on-demand and live.”

The joint venture also expands SPEED SPORT Productions’ capabilities dramatically — opening the door to high-quality event production with economics that in many cases will be more attractive than the traditional live television model.

“From day one, our goal has been to create a true motorsports media company anchored by the brand attributes of SPEED SPORT, which is now celebrating its 85th anniversary,” said Ralph Sheheen, Turn 3 Media President and co-founder. “The SPEED SPORT Network finally brings it all together and takes it several steps forward in creating something that supports the tracks and promoters at every level.”

While SPEED SPORT TV will officially launch later this year, the SPEED SPORT Network is already signing content partners, promoters and affiliates.

Promoters and producers interested in the SPEED SPORT Network are urged to visit SPEEDSPORT.tv and request more information.

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Josh Williams will welcome a new primary partner to his No. 36 DGM Racing Chevrolet team for this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

H&H Sign Supply, a full-service, family-owned vinyl supply company, will back Williams at the .533-mile concrete coliseum, marking the brand’s maiden voyage into NASCAR sponsorship.

Based in Sturgis, Ky., H&H Sign Supply was a guest of DGM Racing vinyl partner General Formulations at Kentucky Speedway earlier in the summer, and the experience that H&H had at Kentucky inspired them to pursue an expanded opportunity with Williams and the Mario Gosselin-owned DGM operation.

That chance developed for the Bristol night race weekend, marking the second-straight Bristol Xfinity Series race that Williams will introduce a new sponsor into the sport.

“We’re so excited to join forces with Josh Williams and DGM Racing for this weekend’s Xfinity Series race at Bristol,” said Tanis Holt, Manager/Owner for H&H Sign Supply. “Nick (Holt, President & CEO) has always enjoyed motorsports and began his racing career in 1998 with motorcross. Nick later started racing short track and TT and won two championships. In recent years, though, Nick started getting involved in online simulator racing, and one of his favorite tracks to race is Bristol.

“Being long-time fans, Nick and our family have attended several races, including Bristol, over the past seven years and this weekend’s sponsorship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our company,” Holt added. “We look forward to cheering Josh on this weekend as he pursues a strong result.”

Williams is in the midst of a career season in the Xfinity Series, racing full time for the first time and posting his maiden top-10 finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in late April.

The Port Charlotte, Fla. native currently ranks 17th in the Xfinity Series point standings. His Bristol career-best of 19th was set during the tour’s most-recent visit in April, as well.

“Over the course of the year, I have had the pleasure to get to know not only General Formulations, but also their customers that come to the track as our guests each week,” noted Williams. “Every person we meet along the way of this grassroots journey becomes part of this team, and having the opportunity to represent H&H Sign Supply is a true testament to that.

“I can’t thank Nick, Tanis and their son Ryder enough for being a part of this Bristol weekend, and we look forward to giving the H&H Sign Supply Chevy a good ride for them.”

INDIANAPOLIS – The late Bryan Clauson, a legendary figure in the annals of the United States Auto Club, headlines the newest induction class entering the USAC Hall of Fame.

Headlining the Class of 2019, Clauson will be joined by champion mechanic Johnny Capels, late USAC PR director Dick Jordan and fellow driving champion Dave Steele in the eighth class of inductees.

The quartet will be formally inducted on Wednesday, Sept. 4, during the Driven2SaveLives BC39 powered by NOS Energy Drink at The Dirt Track at IMS.

New Mexico native Capels is a five-time championship-winning chief mechanic, claiming back-to-back USAC national titles with Joe Leonard in 1971 and 1972, plus USAC Champ Dirt Car titles with Al Unser in 1973, Mario Andretti in 1974 and as a chief mechanic and car owner for Pancho Carter in 1978.

Capels was also victorious as a USAC Sprint Car driver in 1968 and served in the roles of USAC Senior VP and Director of Competition in 1992, USAC President and COO from 1997 to 2001 and as Chairman of the Board of Directors for USAC from 2002 to 2010.

Clauson, of Noblesville, Ind., won 112 USAC races as a driver between 2004 and his 2016 passing. He is one of six drivers to reach the 100-win mark during his career with the club.

Clauson ranks seventh on both the USAC National Sprint Car and USAC National Midget wins list, with 41 and 38 wins, respectively. He also scored two career USAC Silver Crown victories.

He captured the overall USAC National Driving Championship in 2010, 2011 and 2012, a pair of USAC National Midget Series championships in 2010 and 2011 and USAC National Sprint Car titles in 2012 and 2013.

Jordan, of Brownsburg, Ind., was USAC’s public and media relations man for over half a century from 1968 until his death on Aug. 9, and it’s safe to say that no individual has witnessed more USAC events than Jordan did.

Jordan devoted his entire working life to publicizing the club’s drivers and events, working with the media, as well as preserving the club’s rich history with his thorough race reports, statistics and record-keeping.

One of the most respected individuals in all racing media, the recognition Jordan received from around the racing world because of his contributions was extensive.

Tampa, Fla., native Steele racked up one of the greatest careers in the history of USAC, ultimately becoming a two-time Silver Crown driving champion in 2004 and 2005 and one of the club’s most accomplished drivers in the decades of the 1990 and 2000s.

Steele earned 60 USAC national victories, all of which came on pavement, including 16 Silver Crown, 26 National Sprint Car and 18 National Midget wins.

A two-time Little 500 winner at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway – where he earned his final USAC win in 2009 – Steele passed away in 2017 following a crash on the opening lap of a Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series event at Florida’s Desoto Speedway.

The USAC Hall of Fame began in 2012 and has inducted 80 individuals over its seven-year history.

BRAINERD, Minn. – There’s a certain affinity Ron Capps has with Brainerd Int’l Raceway and its huge on-site campground known as “The Zoo.”

After all, there is a part of the campground named after the Funny Car world champion, a corner aptly called “Capps Corner.” It’s an honor the veteran takes seriously and it’s evident in Capps’ track record at the fan-favorite facility.

Capps has five career wins in Brainerd, the site of this weekend’s 38th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, the most recent coming in 2014 to finish off a stretch of three straight Funny Car wins at the track.

In the midst of another solid NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Capps hopes to start a new streak in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.

After all, he feels a certain responsibility when it comes to performing well in Brainerd.

“When the fans started ‘Capps Corner’ you couldn’t ask for a bigger compliment,” said Capps, who has 63 career wins. “There’s certain accolades you get, but to have a corner named after you at Brainerd in ‘The Zoo’ it ranks right up there with anything. It’s a cool thing. The Canadians that come down are so much fun, and just the people that come out, you almost have to pay them back by going out to see them. Obviously it’s paid great dividends for me on the track.”

Brainerd is the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA calendar, and as the penultimate race of the regular season, Capps is fully aware of where his team needs to be heading into Brainerd.

The Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship is a month away, and Capps wants to see his team, led by crew chief Rahn Tobler, at its best. He grabbed back-to-back wins earlier in the year, adding another final round appearance at the most recent race in Seattle.

It’s a good sign heading into the most important time of the year and Capps wants to keep that momentum going.

“Right around the corner is Indy and the Countdown, so this time of the year is unique and you couldn’t ask for a better race at this time of the year because it’s so fun,” said Capps, who is fourth in Funny Car points. “Everything about Brainerd just takes the edge off. You’ve got teams, like ours, that are fighting for position. We want to be race ready for the Countdown, and if you’re a little lost in your tune-up right now, you’re not in a good place.”

Capps, though, seems to be in a really good place in a loaded class. Winning in Brainerd remains an important task for him, though he’ll have to deal with the likes of points leader Robert Hight, John Force, who picked up his 150th career win by beating Capps in the final round in Seattle, defending world champ J.R. Todd and Don Schumacher Racing teammates Tommy Johnson Jr., Beckman and Matt Hagan.

But Capps promises to have plenty of motivation this weekend.

“Brainerd has a lot of deep-rooted memories for me,” Capps said. “Certain tracks you learn to balance the karma, and the karma for Brainerd is you need to go to ‘The Zoo’ and hang out with the fans a little bit. In the past it’s definitely paid me back. You don’t have to go and get crazy, but you need to go enjoy it with the fans.

“Every Saturday night, we go to ’The Zoo’ and I tell Tobler we’ll have him back right after the fireworks and back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.”