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Angels stymied by Hernandez in 3-1 loss to Seattle

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) — Most nights, C.J. Wilson’s performance would be good enough to be in line for a win.

With the way Felix Hernandez threw, the Los Angeles lefty needed to be nearly perfect.

“I made enough good pitches to throw deep into the game,” Wilson said. “But I didn’t make enough good pitches to win the game.”

Wilson pitched into the eighth inning, but couldn’t match the gem thrown by Hernandez in Seattle’s 3-1 win over the Angels on Wednesday night. Hernandez took a shutout bid into the ninth inning, coming within one out of his first complete game since August 2012

Hernandez (7-1) became the seventh pitcher in Mariners history with seven victories before June 1. He won his fourth consecutive start with his most dominant performance of the season.

And he got all the offensive support he needed when catcher Mike Zunino lined a two-out, two-run single off Wilson in the second inning. Zunino added on with a solo homer off Wilson (6-4) on the first pitch of the eighth inning.

“At the end of the day if you let the same guy beat you twice that’s my mistake,” Wilson said. “He is a major league hitter trying to win the game for his team and I let him do it tonight.”

Wilson got in trouble in the second, giving up a leadoff single to Justin Smoak and walking Kyle Seager. John Buck grounded out, but was able to advance both runners, and Dustin Ackley fouled out behind third before Zunino snapped a 0-for-10 skid by slicing single into right field.

Wilson was frustrated about the entire inning, especially the walk to Seager and falling behind in the count to Zunino. Wilson gave up five hits and struck out five. He had won five of his previous six starts at Safeco Field.

“I made enough mistakes to lose the game myself,” Wilson said.

Hernandez was on the verge of his first complete game since Aug. 27, 2012 against Minnesota but could not get the 27th out. He cruised through the eighth, still hitting the mid-90s mph on the stadium radar gun and closed the inning striking out Hank Conger.

Hernandez had allowed just two hits when he jogged from the dugout to start the ninth to a big ovation while closer Fernando Rodney warmed up in the bullpen. He struck out Collin Cowgill swinging and retired Howie Kendrick on a fly ball.

But Hernandez couldn’t finish it off against two of the best hitters in baseball. Mike Trout singled and Albert Pujols’ RBI double ended Hernandez’s night at 116 pitches. He struck out nine and walked two. Rodney entered and got David Freese to line out for his 13th save of the season.

“He was strong. He felt great. It’s just tough there, you have to weigh the players but also what is good for the team,” Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. “I had my closer up and he was ready to go so we thought it was the best matchup.”

Hernandez struck out five of the first nine batters. Kendrick ended any thoughts of another special night from Hernandez with a solid single leading off the fourth. Trout then walked, but Hernandez skirted the jam thanks to Zunino throwing out Kendrick trying to steal third and Freese’s strikeout.

Erick Aybar had the only other hit for the Angels before the ninth inning with a single in the fifth.

“He’s not just throwing, he’s pitching,” Angels DH Raul Ibanez said. “He knows what he is doing, a smart pitcher with great stuff and command.”

NOTES: Matt Shoemaker will start Thursday’s series finale for the Angels. He was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake after LHP Sean Burnett tore a ligament in his pitching elbow in Tuesday’s game. LHP Wade LeBlanc, the original starter, will now work out of the bullpen. … Seattle RHP Taijuan Walker (shoulder) made his first rehab start at Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday night and threw three innings, giving up five hits, four earned runs and striking out three. He threw 61 pitches.

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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