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Figueroa’s 2B in 9th leads Rays past Red Sox 1-0

By WTOP Staff

MARK DIDTLER
Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Cole Figueroa’s first big league RBI was a big one.

Figueroa had a pinch-hit, run-scoring double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 1-0 victory against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

“It was kind of last minute,” said Figueroa, who was told by bench coach Dave Martinez about the upcoming at-bat. “Davey came over and said ‘If the righty comes in, we’re going to pinch hit, and you’re going to go up and win the game for us.'”

Desmond Jennings drew a one-out walk in the ninth off Andrew Miller (1-3). Right-hander Burke Badenhop entered and, after Jennings stole second on a pitchout, Figueroa drove in the winning run on a drive to right-center.

“That’s a great moment for him,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “It was a great moment for us.”

The 26-year old Figueroa had his contract purchased from Triple-A Durham May 14 and made his major league debut two days later.

Juan Carlos Oviedo (1-0), the third Tampa Bay reliever, pitched the ninth and got the win. It was his first victory since Aug. 1, 2011 with Miami when he was known as Leo Nunez.

John Lackey gave up five hits, including three by Evan Longoria, in seven-plus shutout innings for the Red Sox, who have lost eight in a row. Boston has scored just 16 runs during its longest skid since dropping the final eight games of the 2012 season.

“We’re not playing very good right now,” Lackey said. “You can’t really point finger at one person, one area. We’ve had nights where everybody hasn’t played up to his capability. We just have to put a ballgame together and pay better.”

Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer struck out 11, walked four and scattered four hits over six scoreless innings.

Red Sox manager John Farrell tweaked his lineup, which failed early on Friday to get a key hit as Boston couldn’t score after getting two on with two outs in the first, second and fifth innings.

“We put guys on base and were not able to cash in once again” Farrell said.

Brock Holt hit leadoff for the second time this season. Dustin Pedroia made his second appearance batting third, with regular third- and fourth-place hitters David Ortiz and Mike Napoli both moving down one spot.

Ortiz stopped an 0-for-17 slide with an opposite-field broken-bat ground single to left in the first.

Farrell said second-place hitter Xander Bogaerts could bat leadoff against left-handed starters.

Lackey worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the both the first and sixth by getting grounders from Wil Myers and James Loney.

Boston right fielder Shane Victorino left in the ninth with right hamstring tightness. He appeared to get hurt running to first base.

NOTES: Maddon talked with RHP Grant Balfour one day after the closer voiced displeasure with fans who booed him after a blown save Thursday. “I emphasized the point that it’s important he says what he wants to say, and then I gave him my take on everything beyond that,” Maddon said. “But in no way would I try to muzzle any of our guys.” … Red Sox SS Stephen Drew was optioned to Single-A Greenville to start a stretch of nine or 10 minor league games. He went 1 for 2 and played five innings of defense Friday. … Red Sox 3B Will Middlebrooks (broken right index finger) had X-rays taken to see how the healing process is progressing … Red Sox LHP Felix Doubront (strained left shoulder) is ready to start a light throwing program. … Rays LHP David Price (4-4) and Boston RHP Jake Peavy (1-2) are Saturday’s scheduled starters. … Rays 3B coach Tom Foley wore Tampa Bay senior adviser Don Zimmer’s uniform No. 66. Zimmer is recovering from heart surgery last month.

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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