Skip to main content

Price, Rays win 2-1, thanks to Rodney’s blown save

By WTOP Staff

SEATTLE (AP) — David Price was nearly untouchable, giving up just a run, and he still walked off the field in the eighth inning in line for the loss.

Then came the ninth inning, and everything changed for the Tampa Bay Rays.

David DeJesus homered and Matt Joyce hit a go-ahead RBI single as the Rays rallied in the ninth inning against Seattle closer Fernando Rodney to beat the Mariners 2-1 on Tuesday night.

“We needed a win, period,” Price said. “Whether it was a blowout or a game like that.”

Tampa Bay had been reeling, coming in having lost five of six. Price (4-3) was also trying to turn things around, having lost his last two decisions. Before the game he watched highlights from his 2012 Cy Young-winning season and he changed up his uniform for the game, going with high socks for the first time since he played for Triple-A Durham in 2009.

“Figured I needed to switch it up a little bit, and I guess it worked,” Price said.

Price kept the Mariners off balance most of the night, allowing one run and six hits in his second complete game this season. Eight of his 12 strikeouts came on called third strikes.

“David dominated it. Really, we don’t win it without him pitching tonight,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “His focus was outstanding. The way he handled every moment — when there was a little trouble, he didn’t lose his tempo or his rhythm.

“He just stayed there and made pitches when he needed to.”

As good as Price was on the mound, Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma had been better, throwing eight scoreless innings. But Rodney didn’t hold up his end of the pitchers’ duel.

Rodney (1-2) had a 2-2 count on DeJesus when the designated hitter sent a fly ball down the right-field line, and all right fielder Stefen Romero could do was watch as the ball cleared the wall with a couple of rows to spare.

“I looked at the outfielder, he got to the wall, and I was like, ‘Oh gosh, I’ve got a shot,'” DeJesus said.

With two outs, James Loney golfed a single up the middle and was replaced by pinch-runner Sean Rodriguez. Desmond Jennings’ hard grounder to short hopped past Brad Miller, and then Joyce’s fly to right-center dropped in front of a diving James Jones to score Rodriguez.

“It’s been a tough start for us, and hopefully this is something that will get us going,” Joyce said. “This is definitely something we needed.”

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jones led off with a double down the left-field line and later scored on Robinson Cano’s groundout to first.

Iwakuma, making his third start after opening the season on the disabled list with a finger injury, gave up a double to DeJesus in the first, then retired 13 in a row before the Rays picked up a pair of singles in the fifth. Tampa Bay’s only other hit off Iwakuma was Joyce’s single to lead off the eighth, but Iwakuma finished off that inning — and his night — with a called strikeout of Wil Myers with the runner stranded on first.

It was the second straight eight-inning shutout outing for Iwakuma, who has now thrown 24 straight scoreless innings at home dating to last season. He didn’t get the chance to try for his first career complete game, though, as Rodney came on and ended up with his second blown save.

“Kuma was out of gas,” Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. “I’ve got one of the best closers in the game. This guy’s going to save a lot of games for us, it just didn’t go his way tonight.”

NOTES: Before the game, Maddon said he was encouraging his players to use old-school cologne for the game in an effort to shake the team out of its slump. “Aroma matters,” he said. Maddon added that he hoped the smells would conjure up warm memories of the players’ fathers. “I’m hoping for this really awful odor in the dugout with all these scents tonight. That would be outstanding.” … Maddon also used the more traditional method of mixing up the lineup. Myers (leadoff), DeJesus (No. 2) and 2B Ben Zobrist (No. 4) were in those spots for the first time this season. … Rodney has allowed a baserunner in 10 of his 13 save opportunities.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote