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Giants hit 3 solo homers in 5-1 win over Rockies

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL KELLY
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Jhoulys Chacin is getting closer to being back to form. Now a win would be nice to go with good health.

Carlos Gonzalez, however, took a few steps back with his health.

Chacin was sharp despite allowing three runs, including solo homers to Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval, in 5 2-3 innings of the Colorado Rockies’ 5-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night.

It was a positive step for the right-hander despite falling to 0-3 in four starts since coming off the disabled list May 4. Chacin missed the first month of the season with a right shoulder strain but has pitched into the sixth inning in each of his last three outings.

“It was an encouraging outing; he took another step forward,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s done that in each outing but I thought his stuff was much sharper tonight. His velocity was up a couple ticks and I thought all around it was a step forward for him.”

Gonzalez had a setback after his left index finger became swollen during the game. He said he had an X-ray after being removed from the game at the end of the seventh inning but nothing was broken.

“Just a lot of swelling,” he said. “One of those things I have to deal with and get treatment every day.”

Gonzalez has been bothered by the finger for a while. He came out of a game against the Mets on May 1 and sat out the next day before returning to the lineup on May 3.

After Wednesday’s game he had the finger wrapped after going 0 for 2 with a walk.

“I lost everything. I can’t get a grip, I can’t bend my finger so it’s really hard to hit,” he said. “My first at-bat my finger started swelling again. My second at-bat I walked but the third at-bat it was really bad. When I hit that ball to left field they decided to take me out of the game because it was looking bad.”

Even with Gonzalez in the lineup the Rockies couldn’t do much against the NL West-leading Giants. Yusmeiro Petit threw three sharp innings after starter Matt Cain left with a strained right hamstring and Brandon Crawford also connected for San Francisco, which won at Coors Field for just the fifth time in 15 games dating back to last season.

Cain didn’t allow a hit through three innings, before giving way to Petit (3-1). He and four other relievers limited the best offensive team in the majors to just five hits.

“Cain and Petit pitched to the edges of the plate really well, ran the ball really well,” Weiss said. “That was the biggest thing. They didn’t throw many pitches in the middle of the plate.”

Pence’s solo homer off Chacin leading off the fourth was the first hit of the game. Sandoval connected in the fifth and Michael Morse followed with a double to chase Chacin.

“Two bad pitches, two homers, two runs,” Chacin said. “I made a bad pitches to Morse but I felt fine.”

Trailing 5-0 in the eighth, the Rockies loaded the bases with no outs. Michael Cuddyer sent a grounder up the middle that Crawford tracked down and scooped over to second base with his glove to start a double play.

Troy Tulowitzki then flew out limit the damage to only a run.

The Giants had another pitcher get hurt in the ninth, when reliever Santiago Casilla injured his right leg hustling down the first base line trying to beat out a hit. He fell over the bag and rolled several times on the field. Casilla was helped to the dugout by the trainers and Jeremy Affeldt finished the game.

Cain was settling into a rhythm when Rockies second baseman D.J. LeMahieu sent a sharp comebacker at the right-hander in the third. While the ball appeared to glance off Cain’s glove, the Giants came out to check on him. Cain finished the inning before the bullpen took over.

Earlier this season, Cain missed 13 games after he cut his right index finger while making a ham-and-cheese sandwich in the Giants clubhouse. The cut didn’t require stitches.

Tulowitzki’s torrid hitting at home this season (.521 with eight homers) caught the attention of Giants broadcaster and former major league pitcher Mike Krukow.

“You’re always skeptical — it’s just the way you are as a player,” Krukow said before the game. “He’s hitting as if he’s getting signs. I’m not accusing anybody of anything.”

Still, Weiss had some fun with the assertion his shortstop is somehow stealing signs.

“We have a light bulb on the scoreboard we flash. Keep an eye on Dinger (the team’s mascot), he’s involved,” Weiss said. “We switch out the balls. Got the umpires in on it.

“I love it when other teams talk about that,” Weiss said. “I think it’s great. I think it feeds the beast.”

NOTES: The Rockies have not lost a series at home this season. … Cuddyer’s double in the sixth inning was his first hit since coming off the disabled list Tuesday. … RHP Tim Hudson (4-2) will take the mound in the series finale on Thursday. The Rockies will throw LHP Jorge De La Rosa (5-3).

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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