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Betances’ rare slip up helps A’s rally past Yanks

By WTOP Staff

HOWIE RUMBERG
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — When Stephen Vogt tagged Dellin Betances with a tying double in the eighth, Brandon Moss instantly thought the Oakland Athletics were on their way to a win.

The A’s slugger had that much respect for the big Yankees reliever.

Moss helped Oakland fulfill his feeling, hitting his second homer of the game leading off the 10th inning as the A’s rallied for a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night.

“I felt like that pretty much did it for us because if we can get to that guy and get him out of the game,” Moss said, “they have Robertson who’s a dominant reliever but you’re probably only going to see him one inning. Then nobody that they’re going to bring out of that bullpen is — they’re good but they’re not those two guys. Once you get those two guys you feel pretty good about your chances.”

Betances, a failed minor league starter, has developed into one of the Yankees’ best relievers — with a fastball and devastating curveball. The 6-foot-8 right-hander from New York, had not walked a batter over 10 appearances (15 1-3 innings) before giving Alberto Callaspo a free pass with two outs in the eighth.

Betances appeared rattled after the walk and he fell behind Vogt, a pinch hitter. Vogt lined a full-count pitch into right-center for a tying double.

“I felt good. I just think the two out walk hurt, I had him in my head and I just did not put him away,” Betances said. “I think from there I just fell behind on Vogt and just threw him a good pitch to hit. I think Callaspo, that at-bat was more frustrating.”

Returning to the lineup after missing two games with a strained right calf, Moss drilled a full-count pitch from Adam Warren (1-3) into the second deck down the right field line for his 15th homer. That gave the AL West-leading A’s their first lead in a game that was delayed more than an hour at the start by rain.

The major’s best run-producing offense then got an RBI double from Jed Lowrie and a run-scoring single from Kyle Blanks to open a big lead for Oakland’s suspect back end of the bullpen.

Sean Doolittle finished off the A’s fourth straight win with a perfect 10th for his sixth save. Doolittle extended his scoreless streak to 15 1-3 innings.

Dan Otero (5-1) pitched an inning for the A’s, who improved to 7-13 when trailing after seven innings.

The injury-depleted Yankees came in looking hardly like the Bronx Bombers they are expected to be. With an opening-day payroll about $120 million more than the A’s, New York had hit just five homers in 15 games and none in the two Mark Teixeira sat with inflammation in his surgically repaired right wrist.

Teixeira, though woke up pain-free Tuesday and manager Joe Girardi made the switch-hitter the cleanup batter. Teixeira drove in New York’s two runs, homering in the sixth for a 2-1 lead.

“He said he was fine,” Girardi said. “You know you kind of keep your fingers crossed and hope he feels good tomorrow.”

In contrast, Moss’ drive off Hiroki Kuroda into Monument Park leading off the fifth gave the slugging A’s at least one long ball in 11 straight games.

A rainbow arcing high above the scoreboard in center field before the rain-delayed first pitch appeared to be a good omen for New York, which grabbed a quick lead.

Scott Kazmir needed four batters to warm up after a storm pushed back the start 1 hour, 12 minutes. Brett Gardner singled leading off. After Derek Jeter struck out, Jacoby Ellsbury singled and Teixeira dunked a blooper inside the right field line for a 1-0 lead.

After that, Kazmir retired 16 of 17 — including four Ks in a row — before Teixeira sent a drive into the A’s bullpen in left-center for his 10th homer — the second swinging from the right side — and a 2-1 lead.

Kuroda was just as good, allowing a run and two hits in 6 2-3 innings.

NOTES: Ellsbury has committed $1 million to Oregon State, where he played from 2003-05. The money will go to help with the expansion of the baseball team’s locker room facilities. … The Yankees claimed off waivers LHP Wade LeBlanc from the Los Angeles Angels. … New York OF Carlos Beltran (bone spur in right elbow) went 2 for 3 with a walk as the designated hitter in an extended spring training game in Tampa, Florida. Girardi said it was possible that Beltran could rejoin the Yankees on Friday in Kansas City. … Up next: Oakland’s Jesse Chavez (4-3) faces New York’s Vidal Nuno (1-2).

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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