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Marlins falter on road again, lose to Padres 9-3

By WTOP Staff

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Miami Marlins were hoping get on a roll on the road coming off the most successful homestand in franchise history.

It’s not working out that way.

With Chase Headley hitting a three-run homer in his return to the lineup and Seth Smith driving in four runs, the San Diego Padres soundly beat the Marlins for a second straight game, 9-3 on Saturday night.

Headley, who came off the 15-day disabled list before the game, connected on a 2-2 fastball from Carlos Marmol (0-3) to cap a four-run sixth inning and break the game open with a 6-2 lead.

Smith later added a two-run double in the seventh as the Marlins’ road record dropped to 3-12, worst in the majors.

And Miami is only three games (1-2) into its 11-game road swing, its longest of the season.

“We just got to figure this thing out,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “We’ve got to come out there (Sunday) and find a way to get a big win, whether it is a great pitching performance or a big hit or a few big hits.”

San Diego, which entered averaging a major league-low 2.8 runs per game, was coming off its highest scoring output since Sept. 25, a 10-1 win over Miami on Friday.

The 19 combined runs were the most San Diego scored in consecutive games since Sept. 5-6, 2012.

Smith hit a solo homer, a two-run double and an RBI triple for the Padres, who matched Friday night’s total of 13 hits.

Eric Stults (2-3) allowed two runs on six hits over six innings.

Casey McGehee hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the Marlins.

With the score tied at 2, Marmol relieved Nathan Eovaldi in the sixth and got two quick outs. But Everth Cabrera reached on an infield bunt, stole second and went to third on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s throwing error.

Marmol intentionally walked Smith, who had an RBI triple in the first and hit a solo homer in the third. Jedd Gyorko followed with an RBI single.

Headley, who was hitless in two at-bats with a walk when he pulled Marmol’s 93 mph fastball down the right field line. The ball went just inside the foul pole for his third homer.

Redmond said after the game that the club would be designating Marmol for assignment.

“It’s been a struggle for him,” Redmond said. “We’ve tried to keep getting him in there in different situations and it just hasn’t worked.”

Marmol has an 8.10 ERA, having allowed 12 run on 16 hits over 13 1-3 innings.

“I didn’t work out,” Marmol said. “You got to get people out here. It’s tough. There’s not much to say. I tried my best on the mound and it didn’t work out.”

For the second straight game, the Marlins didn’t get much out of their starting pitcher.

Ace Jose Fernandez did not get an out in the sixth inning Friday night before getting knocked out after Gyorko’s grand slam.

Eovaldi threw 112 pitches Saturday night as he struggled through five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with four walks and only three strikeouts.

“We couldn’t add on any runs and it was a battle out there for Eovaldi,” Redmond said. “He had to throw a lot of pitches and he couldn’t seem to get his off-speed pitches working and he had to throw a lot of fastballs.”

NOTES: Smith has been one of the few Padres who has consistently hit this season. Since May 3, the lefty is batting .577 (15 for 26) with six doubles, three triples, a home run and six RBIs. … The Padres have scored just 10 runs while Stults was in the game in his eight starts. … The Marlins came into the game with an 8-2 record against left-handed starters, tops in the majors. … Padres RHP Hector Ambriz, designated for assignment on Thursday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday. … Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (2-2, 2.62 ERA) faces Padres LHP Robbie Erlin (1-4, 4.95) in Sunday’s finale.

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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