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Rollins ties hit record, but Phils lose to Cubs

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jimmy Rollins has two more tries to celebrate a major milestone at home.

Rollins tied Mike Schmidt’s franchise record of 2,234 hits, but the Philadelphia Phillies lost 2-1 to the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.

With the Hall of Fame third baseman watching in a suite, Rollins led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to right off Neil Ramirez. He scored on Domonic Brown’s two-out single, but Carlos Ruiz struck out looking with the tying run on third.

“It’s been fun,” Rollins said of the chase. “It’s something I want to do at home. I want to share it with the people of Philadelphia.”

The Phillies have two more games at Citizens Bank Park before hitting the road.

Jake Arrieta threw seven impressive innings and Starlin Castro hit a two-run to help the Cubs win in matchup of last-place teams.

Arrieta (2-1) allowed two hits and no runs, tying a career high with nine strikeouts. He didn’t give up a hit until Brown sliced a double just inside the left field line with one out in the fifth.

The Phillies were seeking their first four-game winning streak since last June 2-6.

“We’ve haven’t been winning in streaks, or in general,” Rollins said.

Phillies starter Roberto Hernandez (2-5) was ejected after hitting Castro with a fastball on the left arm in the sixth inning. Plate umpire Mark Ripperger immediately tossed Hernandez, even though there were no previous warnings, hit batters, or inside pitches. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg also was ejected after he came out to argue.

“I was very, very surprised,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t throw that on purpose. I wanted to continue to throw the ball down. I had two outs. I wanted to pitch into the next inning.”

Hernandez allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2-3 innings. He walked Anthony Rizzo leading off the fourth. Castro then drove his ninth homer out to left.

“I pitched a good game, one bad pitch the home run,” Hernandez said.

Castro and Hernandez are friends from the Dominican Republic.

“I don’t think he did it on purpose,” Castro said. “He’s a good friend of mine. I see him every day in the Dominican.”

The Phillies were coming off a three-game sweep over San Diego. They’re desperately trying to rebound following a terrible stretch in order to avoid what could be a fire sale before the non-waiver trade deadline July 31.

“Best part of the last few days is we’ve been playing good baseball,” Rollins said. “Things are slowly coming our way.”

NOTES: Phillies ace Cliff Lee threw again on Friday, but it’s uncertain when he’ll rejoin the rotation. Lee has missed four starts with an elbow strain. … Phillies setup man Mike Adams received a cortisone shot in his ailing right shoulder and is expected to start a throwing program in 10 days. … Phillies 3B Cody Asche (hamstring) began a rehab assignment at Class-A Lakewood. He could return to the lineup late next week. … Both teams wore 1964 retro uniforms. … Edwin Jackson (4-6, 4.70) goes for the Cubs against David Buchanan (1-3, 6.08) on Saturday afternoon.

___

Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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