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Randy Wolf pitches Marlins past Rays 3-1

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Randy Wolf threw a 68 mph curve for a ball, and his next pitch was even slower and wider. They served their purpose, setting up the 88 mph fastball he threw for a called strike three to Yunel Escobar, who stood at the plate hanging his head before beginning the long walk back to the dugout.

Wolf pitched that way for six innings Monday night and earned his first victory since 2012 when the Miami Marlins beat Tampa Bay 3-1, sending the Rays to their seventh consecutive loss.

The 37-year-old Wolf is making a comeback from the second Tommy John surgery of his career.

“I throw the same as I’ve always thrown,” Wolf said. “It’s not like I was a flamethrower ever in my career. I’ve always thrown 88 (mph), so it’s not like I have to make a huge adjustment.”

Wolf allowed three hits and one run. He struck out seven, walked one and won for the first time since he pitched Baltimore past Tampa Bay on Sept. 13, 2012.

“Randy was great,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “You saw a veteran go out there and control the strike zone and change speeds and mix and match. He was able to throw all his pitches for strikes and keep them off balance.”

The Rays came into the game off balance, and fell to 0-7 on their eight-game trip. They’re 12 games below .500 for the first time since 2007, and their record (23-35) is the worst in the American League.

The Rays went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. They’ve scored six runs in their past five games.

“I still have a lot of faith in these guys,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I’m not wavering on that whatsoever. It’s just the particular moment we’re in right now. We’re going to turn this thing around.”

Four Miami relievers completed the six-hitter, and Steve Cishek pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances. The Marlins, coming off a sloppy series against Atlanta, snapped a streak of four consecutive home losses as they started a four-game home-and-home series against their intrastate rivals.

“That felt more like a Marlins game we’re used to watching, getting hits when we need to and the pitching staff doing their part,” third baseman Casey McGehee said.

Alex Cobb (1-3) paid dearly for a rocky start. The Marlins scored three times in the first, when their first four batters reached. McGehee hit a two-run single, and a bases-loaded double play scored another run.

McGehee is hitting .426 with runners in scoring position, best in the majors.

Wolf (1-1) didn’t pitch in 2013 and was making his second start of this year. He struck out five of the first eight batters he faced, and after Desmond Jennings doubled home a run in the fifth, Wolf retired the next three hitters.

Wolf was signed as a free agent last month after ace Jose Fernandez was sidelined by a season-ending elbow injury. The left-hander improved his career record to 133-118.

“We brought him in to see how much he has left,” Redmond said, “and you saw today that this guy can still pitch.”

Wolf said he has enough left to help the Marlins this year.

“It has been a long, crazy road, especially recently,” he said. “Having an unknown future and being counted out because of your age, it’s a gratifying feeling to work hard and come back and have a win. But for me it’s not time to sit back and relax. I feel like I have more to do.”

NOTES: Escobar (quad) was back in the lineup after missing two starts. … Tampa Bay RF Wil Myers (wrist), who went on the disabled list Sunday, is awaiting further test results but is expected to be sidelined three to six weeks, the team said. … Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson (elbow surgery) threw 50 pitches in a simulated game in Port Charlotte and said he felt good. He’ll likely make at least three rehab starts but is on schedule to return before the All-Star break. … Marlins 2B Derek Dietrich was given the night off after a succession of defensive gaffes. … Before the first pitch, the wives of Marlins players beat the Rays wives in a softball game. … Henderson Alvarez (2-3, 2.97 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday for Miami against Chris Archer (3-2, 4.00).

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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