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Masterson, Indians end Boston’s 7-game win streak

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — Once Justin Masterson found the strike zone, he stayed there.

And there was little the Red Sox could do about it.

Masterson shook off a rocky start and pitched seven scoreless innings as the Cleveland Indians ended Boston’s seven-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory Monday night.

Masterson (3-4) walked four in the first three innings, but got a huge strikeout to escape a bases-loaded threat in the first and settled in to win for the first time in five starts. He allowed just three singles, struck out a season-high 10 and retired 12 of his last 13 batters.

During one stretch from the third to sixth, Masterson threw 25 consecutive strikes.

“I feel like I’ve probably thrown 25 balls in a row in one game,” the affable right-hander said with a laugh. “It felt like we were pounding the zone.”

Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run single in the first off John Lackey (6-4), and the Indians won their fourth straight.

Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer in the Boston eighth off Bryan Shaw to bring the Red Sox to 3-2. But left-hander Marc Rzepczynski retired David Ortiz for the final out in the inning, and Cody Allen worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save.

Cleveland improved to an AL-best 19-11 at home.

Masterson was two different pitchers against the Red Sox.

His wildness had him flirting with danger in the first and third innings, but he managed to pitch out of trouble both times. Masterson needed 61 pitches to get the first nine outs, but he struck out the side in the fourth on just nine pitches.

Masterson retired eight in a row before Ortiz singled through Cleveland’s shift in the sixth. Masterson then induced A.J. Pierzynski to hit into an inning-ending double play for the second time.

It’s been that kind of season for Masterson, who has struggled with his control and has not pitched like the All-Star ace the Indians are counting on.

“In the first three innings he usually runs into some tough spots,” manager Terry Francona said. “He kind of flipped it tonight. Boy, did he ever. You looked up in the third inning and thought, OK, we got the lead, but we’re going to be in the bullpen early. He got us pretty deep.”

Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew went 0 for 2 with a walk in his season debut. He re-signed with Boston as a free agent last month.

Boston outfielder Grady Sizemore was hitless in four at-bats — he popped up for the final out — in his return to Cleveland. Sizemore was a three-time All-Star in nearly eight seasons with the Indians.

Masterson managed to work in and out of a mess he created for himself in the first. The right-hander gave up a single and two walks before throwing three straight balls to Jonny Gomes. Masterson, though, battled back and fanned Gomes, who took exception with plate umpire Phil Cuzzi’s called third strike on a low fastball.

“From 3-0 to 3-3, which is pretty nice,” Masterson said.

In the third, Masterson gave up a one-out single to Dustin Pedroia and walked Ortiz on four pitches before he got Pierzynski to hit into a double play.

“He went from being a little erratic with his command to seemingly he couldn’t throw a ball after that,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “Anytime we had a man on base he found a way to get a groundball double play.”

Unable to do anything against Masterson, the Red Sox finally got on the board in the eighth when Brock Holt singled with one out and Bogaerts followed with his fourth homer, a shot into the seats in right-center.

Chisenhall’s two-out single gave the Indians an early lead. He has eight RBIs during Cleveland’s winning streak.

The Indians went up 3-0 in the third when Michael Bourn led off with his fifth triple and scored on Asdrubal Cabrera’s single.

NOTES: Indians C Carlos Santana, on the seven-day concussion list, took grounders as he continues working toward a return to the lineup. Francona said Santana, who has been in a hitting slump all season, could be cleared and back on Friday, when the Indians open a series in Texas. … With Boston’s roster loaded with left-handed hitters, the Indians recalled reliever Nick Hagadone from Columbus. Cleveland entered the series with three lefties: Hagadone, Rzepczynski and Josh Outman. … Francona said he’s excited to see Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel throw out the first pitch before Wednesday’s game.

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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