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Padres-Reds game postponed because of rain

By WTOP Staff

CINCINNATI (AP) — Johnny Cueto got an extra day of rest before he tries to extend his amazing streak of starts.

The game between the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds was postponed because of rain on Wednesday night and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Thursday. They will play a regularly scheduled game at 12:35 p.m. EDT followed by a makeup game at 6:10 p.m.

Ian Kennedy (2-4) will face Cueto (3-2) in the first game. Tyson Ross (4-3) will start the second game for San Diego. The Reds hadn’t decided on their starter.

For Cueto, it’s a chance to add to a rare streak of season-starting domination.

Cueto has 68 strikeouts in his first eight starts, the most by any Reds pitcher since 1900. He’s the first major leaguer to open the season with at least seven innings and two or fewer runs allowed in each of his first eight starts since the Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela did it in 1981, according to STATS.

“I’m amazed and, yet, not surprised,” manager Bryan Price said. “I’ve talked with Johnny before in the past about empty pitches, pitches that were thrown that didn’t really serve a purpose — the high fastball or a slider that misses way off the plate — that doesn’t serve any value.

“He has thrown so few of those pitches this year. He’s around the plate with everything. When he’s not, he’s teasing the hitter just off the plate or just below the zone or just above the zone. As much as we’ve talked about the potential concern for number of innings, he’s quite pitch efficient.”

And he’ll have an extra day of rest because of the weather.

It was the ninth postponement in Great American Ball Park’s history since 2003 and the second this season. The Reds have had eight rain delays, two postponements and one suspended game this season in Cincinnati.

Outfielder Carlos Quentin wasn’t going to be in the Padres’ lineup as manager Bud Black eases him back in. Quentin was activated before the series opener on Tuesday after missing the first 39 games with a bruised left knee, injured while diving for a ball during spring training.

Quentin went 3 for 18 during a minor league rehab stint and was 0 for 3 with a walk in his return. Black planned to play him on Thursday.

San Diego’s offense ranked last in the league with a .222 average and 118 runs. The Padres are hopeful that with Quentin back and third baseman Chase Headley finally healthy, their offense can pick up. Headley returned from the disabled list last Saturday after recovering from a strained right calf and has homered twice.

Headley’s solo shot in the ninth inning off a 99 mph fastball from Aroldis Chapman gave the Padres a 2-1 win in the series opener.

NOTES: The Padres haven’t won a series on the road this season. … Major League Baseball has made a scoring change from San Diego’s 4-0 loss to Washington on April 26, taking a hit away from Jayson Werth and giving Jedd Gyorko an error. That takes two earned runs away from Padres starter Andrew Cashner, lowering his ERA to 2.35. … Price said C Devin Mesoraco, on a rehab assignment recovering from a strained hamstring, will play a couple more games before the Reds will consider activating him. He began the assignment Tuesday night with Triple-A Louisville.

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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