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Nats put LaRoche on DL after 4-3 loss in 10 to A’s

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL WAGAMAN
Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The hits keep coming for the Washington Nationals, and not in a good way.

Less than 20 minutes after watching his closer blow a save for the first time this season, manager Matt Williams announced that the team plans to place injured first baseman Adam LaRoche on the disabled list because of a strained right quad.

It’s yet another blow to a team already missing two of its top hitters. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (fractured thumb) and outfielder Bryce Harper (thumb sprain) are also on the DL.

“We don’t want to do it, but for the long-term health of Adam and our team, it’s probably important to do that right now and make sure we can calm it down as much as possible,” Williams said following a 4-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.

LaRoche’s sore quad wasn’t the only thing bothering Williams.

Rafael Soriano had converted 19 consecutive saves dating to last August and had crafted a 25-inning scoreless streak before giving up a pair of runs in the ninth inning.

John Jaso then doubled in pinch-runner Nick Punto with two outs in the 10th inning to lift Oakland to its third walk-off win this season after being limited to two hits over the first eight innings.

Alberto Callaspo singled off reliever Drew Storen (2-1) to lead off the 10th before Punto replaced him at first. Storen retired Eric Sogard and Derek Norris before Jaso hit a towering fly ball that ricocheted off the scoreboard in right field as Punto rounded the bases and scored.

“It’s kind of cool because over the last few years we’ve been like a walk-off team here at the Coliseum,” said Jaso, who homered off Nats starter Tanner Roark in the third.

The Nationals were three outs from winning and had their rock-solid closer on the mound until Oakland greeted Soriano with three consecutive hits to open the ninth.

Jaso singled and scored on Jed Lowrie’s double. Josh Donaldson followed with a line drive single to drive in Jaso with the tying run.

It was Soriano’s first blown save since Aug. 17, 2013, and spoiled a stellar outing by Roark.

“Bad day, that’s all I can say,” Soriano said. “Very bad day. I can’t be perfect every time, and it happened tonight.”

The stunning conclusion was in stark contrast to the first eight innings.

Coming off the worst start of his season, Roark was masterful while shutting down the A’s offense. He allowed two hits over 7 2-3 innings, struck out five and didn’t walk a batter. He gave up Jaso’s two-out home run in the third before retiring the next 13.

The Nationals backed him with just enough offense until the bullpen broke down.

“We weren’t getting any good swings,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “(Roark) mixed it up well and kept it off the barrel of the bat.”

Danny Espinosa hit a towering home run off A’s starter Sonny Gray with one out in the third to give the Nats an early lead. Zach Walters and Denard Span followed with singles before Kevin Frandsen lined a two-run double to the gap in left-center to make it 3-0.

Jaso’s two-out home run off Roark in the bottom of the third trimmed Washington’s lead to 3-1. The Oakland catcher also homered in Friday’s 8-0 win over the Nationals.

Roark left with two outs in the eighth after a throwing error by Espinosa allowed Reddick to take third. Roark fielded Eric Sogard’s grounder cleanly, but his throw to first hit Reddick in the back of the helmet and ricocheted near the Nationals dugout.

“Me and (catcher Wilson Ramos) were on the same page so when you get that rhythm and that tempo going and you don’t have to shake anything off, that’s perfect,” Roark said.

Tyler Clippard replaced Roark and retired pinch-hitter Derek Norris before the A’s rallied for the tying runs off Soriano.

Gray, the AL pitcher of the month in April, struck out three and walked two. He allowed six hits over seven innings and gave up all of Washington’s runs in the third

Sean Doolittle (1-2) pitched one inning for the win.

NOTES: Zimmerman has not yet resumed hitting and is scheduled to have another X-ray on Sunday. … Oakland LHP Scott Kazmir (4-1) pitches the series finale after taking the loss in his previous outing. … Former A’s starter Gio Gonzalez (3-2) goes for Washington. Gonzalez won 15 and 16 games for Oakland in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

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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