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Blue Jays sputter at plate in 3-2 loss to Orioles

By WTOP Staff

DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays are certain their hitting woes are only a temporary issue.

They can only hope concern over R.A. Dickey’s groin injury also dissolves within a matter of days.

Toronto wasted a decent outing by Dickey, who pitched into the seventh inning before walking gingerly off the mound in a 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

Dickey (6-5) left with right groin tightness after allowing three runs, two earned, and six hits in 6 2-3 innings. It was the first time this season the knuckleballer has taken a loss when permitting as few as three runs.

Dickey felt a twinge after getting Manny Machado out, then left after taking a practice pitch.

“I didn’t want to jeopardize my next start,” Dickey said. “I was probably out of the game after that next batter, anyway. I decided it was probably in everybody’s best interest to just call it a day.”

Brett Lawrie had two hits and an RBI for the Blue Jays, who have lost six of eight. The AL East leaders have scored only six runs in those six defeats.

“I thought we had pretty good ABs for the most part,” catcher Josh Thole said. “It’s tough when you’re not getting guys in.”

Chris Davis ended an 0-for-9 drought with a two-run drive that put the Orioles up 3-1 in the fifth. It was the 11th of the season for Davis, who led the majors with 53 last year.

“Big home run for the team in the situation, and the individual,” teammate Adam Jones said. “He’s been grinding it out.”

Orioles starter Bud Norris (6-5) gave up one run and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings to win his third straight start. The right-hander extended an impressive run by Orioles starters, who have allowed two runs or fewer in 13 of the last 16 games.

“We’re all out there to help each other and get better,” Norris said. “Right now we’re kind of cruising.”

Toronto closed to 3-2 in the eighth, but Zach Britton got three outs for his seventh save.

Earlier, the Blue Jays nearly got Dickey off the hook.

In the seventh, Orioles reliever Darren O’Day retired Melky Cabrera on a grounder with two outs and two on. One inning later, Jose Bautista was thrown out in a very close play at the plate while trying to score on a double by Edwin Encarnacion.

Left fielder Nelson Cruz retrieved the ball and threw to shortstop J.J. Hardy, who fired the relay to catcher Nick Hundley.

“The big play in the game was obviously the relay throw,” Davis said. “That was a big hit for Encarnacion and a chance for them to get back into the game and get really good momentum in their dugout.”

Lawrie followed with an RBI single.

The Blue Jays stranded nine and went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

“This has been a tough run here so we need to hopefully regroup,” Thole said. “We’re playing behind every night.”

With the score 1-all in the fifth, Jones hit a grounder to third. The throw by Juan Francisco bounced past first base, and Jones lightly pushed umpire Hunter Wendelstedt while rounding the bag. The umpire toppled backward onto the infield dirt but was not hurt.

Davis followed by hitting a 1-0 pitch over the center field wall and into the Baltimore bullpen.

“We got burned by the home run ball,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said.

Dickey got into trouble in the first inning when Nick Markakis led off with an infield hit and Machado doubled. But Jones, Davis and Cruz followed with popups.

In the Toronto second, Norris hit Lawrie with a pitch before walking Thole with the bases loaded.

Baltimore tied it in the fourth when Hundley delivered a sacrifice fly following singles by Delmon Young and Ryan Flaherty.

NOTES: Toronto DH Adam Lind left with a bruised right foot. … The Blue Jays activated RHP Sergio Santos (right elbow) from the DL and optioned OF Darin Mastroianni to Triple-A Buffalo. Santos was needed in the bullpen after LHP Brett Cecil left Friday’s game with groin tightness. Cecil will rest for a few days before being reevaluated. … Jones went 0 for 3 against Dickey and is 3 for 22 lifetime against the knuckleballer. … Toronto is 34-17 when hitting a HR and 6-13 without one.

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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