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Nats hit 3 HRs in beating the Cardinals

By WTOP Staff

Craig Heist, wtop.com

JUPITER, Fla. – It didn’t have nearly the intensity of Game 5 of the National League division series a year ago and the result was different as the Nationals beat the Cardinals 6-2 Saturday in a Grapefruit League game.

The rematch also featured the Game 5 starters from last September, Gio Gonzalez and Adam Wainwright. But it was Wainwright who got beat up early in this spring game giving up five runs, (four earned) in the second inning. He gave up two home runs during his stint.

Gonzalez, who last year in Game 5 allowed three runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts, gave up two runs on five hits Saturday while walking one and he did not have a strikeout.

It was Gonzalez’s second start of the spring and he will have one more before he heads to the World Baseball Classic to join Team USA when the team gets to Miami. He was happy with the results from his start.

“It was good,” Gonzalez said. “My arm feels good. My arm is healthy and I am where I want to be. Again, it’s about adjustments, little by little, it’s Spring Training and I’m sure everyone is doing the same thing. Everyone is making adjustments and working on what they need to work on. When you see your defense and offense coming alive and making good plays and putting the ball in play, it’s pretty exciting to see right now.”

Gonzalez threw 52 pitches, 31 for strikes, throwing mostly fastballs. The weather had a little bit to do with that as the temperature was in the 60’s and a there was a stiff breeze blowing out to right field.

“I thought he threw the ball good,” said manager Davey Johnson. “For some reason or another, the ball was really slippery today and he couldn’t get a good feel on it and didn’t throw too many breaking balls and really just stayed with his fastballs.”

Gonzalez left Game 5 last year with a 6-3 lead only to see the Cardinals come back and win as Drew Storen couldn’t hold a two-run lead, giving up a four-run ninth inning in a 9-7 loss that sent St. Louis to the National League Championship Series against the Giants.

Gonzalez was facing the Cardinals for the first time since that devastating loss.

“It was good to see some familiar faces,” Gonzalez said. “They’re all nice guys. Off the field they’re great guys, on the field, the same thing. They’re competitors, just like we are and I’m sure they were thinking the same things, go out and attack the strike zone and swing the bat. It’s the same thing we are trying to do. It’s Spring Training. There’s no rivalry yet.”

Booming bats

The Nationals hit three home runs on the day.

They scored four times in the second inning as Anthony Rendon hit a two-run blast to dead center field off Wainwright that hit three-quarters of the way up the batters eye. Chris Marrero singled in a run just before that and he also hit a solo homer to right. Later, Ian Desmond went deep to the opposite field.

Both Marrero and Rendon each has peace of mind knowing they are heading into this year injury free.

Rendon is hitting .438 with two homers and seven RBI and he feels like a burden has been lifted off his shoulders as he headed into this spring.

“You don’t have to get in the training room too early and get rubbed out or whatever you got to do. You can just go up there with a free mind and play the game you have been playing your whole life,” he said.

Marrero has seven hits in 21 at-bats, with a homer and three RBI’s.

“Yeah, this spring is different,” Marrero said. “I feel like when my name is called, I’m ready to go. I don’t have to be coming in and doing therapy or doing this and doing that and just worry about playing baseball.”

␎ anthony_rendon.jpg

Washington Nationals’ Anthony Rendon, center, is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run during an exhibition spring training baseball game, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Storen’s third outing

Nats reliever Drew Storen pitched the eighth inning and struck out the first two batters he faced but then gave up two hits and a walk to load the bases. He then got Justin Christian to pop out to end the inning.

Storen said he was happy overall with what he was working on. But when a reporter broached the subject of Game 5 against the Cardinals last year and if it crossed his mind at all, Storen rolled his eyes.

“If it felt weird and it was going through my head, then I shouldn’t be out there,” he said.

Returning the favor

The Nationals will be at Space Coast Stadium Sunday for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Cardinals. LHP Ross Detwiler will make his second start of the spring before heading off to the WBC in Arizona. LHP Jamie Garcia will throw for St. Louis.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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