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Padres’ 3 HRs beat Reds 6-1, split doubleheader

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Baseball Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Held to three hits in the opener of a doubleheader, the Padres had a season-high three homers to gain a split and keep their momentum going.

Rene Rivera hit the first of San Diego’s three homers, and Tyson Ross allowed three hits in seven innings Thursday night, leading the Padres to a 6-1 victory and a day-night split with the Cincinnati Reds.

Johnny Cueto pitched a three-hitter for his second shutout in the opener, a 5-0 victory. San Diego did a turnabout in the second game, holding Cincinnati to three hits while getting nine of their own.

“The guys came out determined in the second game to put some at-bats together,” Padres manager Bud Black said.

The Padres won their first series on the road this season, taking two of three. They have won five of their last six games, their best stretch of the season.

Ross (5-3) walked five batters — including three in the first inning — and struck out eight including Joey Votto three times. Once he settled in after the first inning, the Reds got only one more runner to second base.

“In the first inning, the sinker was pretty good,” Rivera said. “It was nasty. It was a little down in the strike zone. We told Tyson to keep it closer to the strike zone.”

Rivera hit a two-run homer off left-hander Jeff Francis (0-1), who was called up to make his Reds debut. Francis gave up three runs in five innings.

Everth Cabrera and Yonder Alonso hit solo shots off the bullpen, their first homers of the season. Alonso, who went to San Diego as part of the trade for starter Mat Latos in 2011, also had an RBI single in his former ballpark.

“I played here a lot of years,” Alonso said. “Obviously it’s a special place. I know a lot of those guys. It’s fun, like playing back in the old days. I was reminiscing with a couple of those guys.”

In the opener, Cueto extended his season-opening streak of domination against a team that has been shut out more than any other in the majors — seven times.

San Diego came into the doubleheader last in the NL in batting average (.222) and runs (118). Cueto struck out eight, walked two and threw 116 pitches.

Cueto is the first Red to go at least seven innings in each of his first nine starts since Bucky Walters in 1944.

Asked if he’s the best pitcher in the majors now, Cueto didn’t equivocate.

“I would say yes because the numbers talk and my numbers are going to talk for me,” Cueto said, with assistant trainer Tomas Vera interpreting.

Brandon Phillips homered off Ian Kennedy (2-5) and Zack Cozart singled home two runs, part of a three-hit game for the shortstop.

The Reds got runners on first and third with two outs in the fifth, and Phillips connected for his third homer. In his last 11 games, Phillips is 14 for 39 with seven doubles, two homers and five multihit games.

Cozart snapped an 0-for-15 streak with runners in scoring position when he singled home two runs in the sixth. Kennedy gave up a season-high five runs and 11 hits in six innings.

San Diego’s Seth Smith singled in the opener, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games. He sat out the second game. Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier singled in both games, extending his career-best streak to 14 games.

NOTES: The Padres acquired OF Jake Goebbert in a deal that sent utility player Kyle Blanks to Oakland. The Padres will also get another player to be determined or cash in the deal. Goebbert batted .257 with six homers and 25 RBIs for Triple-A Sacramento this season. He was assigned to Triple-A El Paso. Blanks played in five games with the Padres this season, going 2 for 10. … The Reds optioned right-handed reliever Nick Christiani to Louisville before the first game, then added him as their extra player for the second game. Reliever Kevin Quackenbush was San Diego’s extra player. Christiani didn’t get into the game, but Quackenbush pitched the ninth.

___

Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

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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