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Beckett’s 1st win since 2012, Dodgers beat Marlins

By WTOP Staff

JOE RESNICK
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Josh Beckett wound up on the right side for the first time in a long time.

Beckett earned his first victory in more than a year and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended Jacob Turner’s winless streak, beating the Miami Marlins 7-1 Tuesday night.

Beckett (1-1) gave up an unearned run and four hits over 6 2-3 innings, striking out six and walking three. The three-time All-Star and former World Series MVP with the Marlins was 0-6 in 14 starts since Sept. 30, 2012.

“They talk about the date that I got my last win, and people think I had 30 starts last year,” Beckett added. “But the number of starts is the real indicator. And last year I didn’t pitch good enough to win in the starts I did make.”

Beckett had a rib removed last July in a surgery to alleviate a nerve condition that was affecting his right arm, limiting his season. He was 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight outings.

“You can’t help but think about it after a while,” Beckett said. “But I knew if I kept making pitches, this team was bound to score some runs. This lineup we’re running out there every day is pretty good.”

Miami lost its fifth in a row after learning ace Jose Fernandez had a significant elbow tear and that the team doctor had recommended Tommy John surgery.

“Getting the confirmation that we all obviously didn’t want is a big blow for us, for the team and for the organization,” manager Mike Redmond said. “I know he’s going through some tough decisions, but we know he’ll get himself fixed up.”

Beckett, who spent his first five big league seasons with the Marlins, empathized with the 21-year-old Fernandez.

“The one good thing about that surgery: For the most part, people come back from it and they know how to rehab that,” Beckett said.

“If it was a shoulder or something like that, I think it would be a little bit bigger issue. He’ll be back full strength next year. Obviously, they’re going to miss his leadership and what he brings to the ballpark on the days he pitches and the days he doesn’t. He brings the ‘Puig factor’ to that ballclub.”

Dodgers star Yasiel Puig extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games with two hits, including an RBI double. It was Puig bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium and the outfielder caught a ceremonial first pitch from his mother, Maritza.

Turner (0-1) is winless in 16 starts since last July. He gave up four earned runs in 5 1-3 innings.

Turner is 0-10 in 17 career starts on the road with a 3.97 ERA.

The game was scoreless until the Dodgers got five runs in the sixth. Dee Gordon hustled for a double with one out, Puig walked and Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run double.

Adrian Gonzalez followed with an RBI double, Matt Kemp singled home a run and Justin Turner hit a sacrifice fly.

Beckett may have lost his edge after the Dodgers batted around. He gave up a leadoff double in the seventh to Garrett Jones, who advanced on a passed ball by Drew Butera and scored on Marcell Ozuna’s sacrifice fly. Beckett then walked No. 8 hitter Derek Dietrich and was lifted after 101 pitches.

“Our only issue with Josh was sending him back out there after sitting that long on the bench. He did look a little rough when he went back out,” manager Don Mattingly said.

“It was good to see him get a win. It just didn’t seem right not to have one, as well as he’s pitched this year. So it was nice to put a few runs on the board and give him some breathing room,” he said.

NOTES: After the game, the Marlins designated RHP Henry Rodriguez for assignment and optioned LHP Dan Jennings to Triple-A New Orleans. Another pitcher will be called up from the minors on Wednesday. … Beckett has allowed no more than two earned runs in five of his seven starts. … Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton extended his hitting streak to 15 games with an infield single in the fourth. … The Dodgers got their major league-best 48th stolen base when Chone Figgins swiped second, one pitch after he was plunked by A.J. Ramos while batting for reliever Chris Perez.

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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