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Konerko homers but White Sox fall 4-3 to D-backs

By WTOP Staff

MARK PERLMAN
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Konerko’s first home run of the season wasn’t enough to lift the Chicago White Sox to victory.

After winning five of six, the White Sox, leading the American League in runs scored, were shut down by Arizona Diamondbacks’ starter Wade Miley 4-3 Saturday night.

But it went down to the final out with Konerko at the plate, but he couldn’t duplicate his success from earlier in the game, grounding out with the tying run on second.

Konerko, who is playing part time in his 18th and final season, hit a two-run line drive over the left field fence to bring Chicago to within 3-2 in the fifth. It was his 435th homer of his career, moving him past Juan Gonzalez and Andruw Jones for 43rd on the career list.

“When you’re not playing as much, you kind of want to try and get as much as you can out of one game,” Konerko said after his eighth start of the season. “It was a real good swing. I was happy with it,” Konerko added.

As Konerko rounded the bases, the fans began the “Pauly chant.

“That was really good,” White Sox acting manager Mark Parent said. “The fans really appreciated it and I know we do.”

He was playing first base for Jose Abreu, who is nursing an ankle injury while hitting in the DH spot. Abreu had a rare off night at the plate, going 0-4 with three strikeouts. Chicago left only three men on base, as they had few scoring opportunities.

“I wasn’t going to let him (Abreu) beat us,” Miley said. “We pitched him like it was 0-2 from the start. We were able to get him to swing at some breaking balls down.”

This marks the 14th time that the White Sox (19-19) have hit the .500 mark. They have been no more than three games under and two games over the break-even point.

Miley pitched seven strong innings and Cody Ross had three hits.

Miley (3-3) allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six and not allowing a walk. His only mistake came on an 0-1 pitch to Konerko.

Former White Sox closer Addison Reed flirted with disaster in his first meeting against his former team before getting his 11th save in 12 chances. Reed, who was traded to the Diamondbacks from the White Sox in the offseason, gave up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Conor Gillaspie, who ended up scoring on Alexei Ramirez’s two-out single. Ramirez stole second but was stranded after Reed got Konerko to bounce out to second.

The White Sox lost for just the second time in seven games.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana (1-3) went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk. The left-hander was done in by a rough fifth inning.

Alfredo Marte hit an RBI double in the fifth and scored on A.J. Pollock’s single. Martin Prado extended the Diamondbacks’ lead to 3-0 with an RBI sacrifice fly. The Diamondback hitters worked the count, forcing Quintana to throw 29 pitches in the inning.

Miley faced the minimum through the first four innings. He consistently got ahead of White Sox hitters and got help from a double play in the fourth.

Konerko’s homer was his first of the season and 435th of his career, moving him past Juan Gonzalez and Andruw Jones for 43rd on the career home run list. Konerko, playing his 18th and final season, has been used as a bench player. He was playing first base for Jose Abreu, who is nursing an ankle injury while hitting in the DH spot.

Arizona picked up an insurance run in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Miguel Montero lined a single off the mitt of right fielder Moises Sierra to give Arizona a 4-2 lead. White Sox reliever Zach Putnam escaped further damage by getting Aaron Hill to ground into a double play.

NOTES: Before the game, White Sox LHP Chris Sale threw a successful simulated game. He threw 50 pitches pain free. He will likely make two rehab starts before returning with the White Sox in two weeks. He’s on the 15-day disabled list with a strained flexor muscle near his left elbow. He hasn’t pitched in a game since April 17. … The White Sox purchased the contract of reliever Frank Francisco and designated Maikel Cleto for assignment. … Arizona starter Chase Anderson is scheduled to make his major league debut Sunday. … White Sox bench coach Mark Parent filled in for manager Robin Ventura, who missed the game to attend his daughter’s graduation.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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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