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Brewers fall 13-4 to Reds, Estrada allows 3 HRs

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Marco Estrada says he’s feeling better. It’s hard to tell when he’s on the mound.

The most homer-prone pitcher in baseball surrendered three more to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, and the Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen let the game get out of reach by allowing eight runs over the last two innings in a 13-4 loss.

Estrada (5-4) has now given up 23 home runs in just 84 innings, including 18 since May 1. His spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy with top prospect Jimmy Nelson sporting a 7-1 record and 1.51 ERA at Triple-A Nashville.

“Whatever happens, happens. I have no control over it. I can’t complain, either,” Estrada said. “If something does happen, I deserve it. If something doesn’t happen, great. Mentally it’ll just build up my confidence even more.”

Billy Hamilton led off the game with a home run, and Brandon Phillips added a two-run drive later in the first inning off Estrada.

The right-hander settled down after that inning. He even contributed a bases-loaded single off Mike Leake (4-6) to help to tie the game at 3 in the fourth.

But Todd Frazier hit his team-high 15th homer in the fifth to give Cincinnati a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

“It was a step in the right direction which I know … probably doesn’t sound right because of what happened but it really was,” Estrada said. “Mentally, I’m strong right now — stronger than I have been … Things are going to get better.”

Manager Ron Roenicke is hoping he can still get Estrada back on track. The pitcher’s location has been off. Homers to Hamilton and Phillips came on off-speed pitches up in the zone.

“I like him as a starter,” Roenicke said. “I like him, obviously, when he’s pitching well. He’s not pitching well right now. He’s making mistakes, and they’re not missing it.”

Ryan Ludwick had three doubles and got four of the Reds’ season-high 19 hits. Frazier also doubled and drove in four runs.

Ahead 5-4, the Reds broke it open by scoring five runs in the eighth. Rob Wooten allowed six straight hits without recording an out.

Cincinnati added three more runs in the ninth while taking two of three from the NL Central leaders.

“We know we can do it, but we haven’t been doing it a lot,” Frazier said. “Today, it showed we can do those (kinds) of things and we got a pitcher that we can hit a little bit.”

The Reds moved back within two games of .500 despite Leake’s rocky outing. He allowed four runs and nine hits in five innings.

Leake gave up Jonathan Lucroy’s homer to center leading off the fifth.

The Reds led 3-0 in the fourth when Milwaukee loaded the bases with two outs on an intentional walk to Jean Segura. Estrada followed with his RBI chopper up the middle and Scooter Gennett then sliced a double the other way down the left-field line to tie it.

But the game got away, and next up for Milwaukee is a seven-game road trip to Arizona and Colorado.

Estrada’s next turn would come Friday in Denver. When asked about making a move from Estrada to Nelson in the rotation, Roenicke just said “Next start’s in Colorado.”

NOTES: Reds LHP Tony Cingrani pitched scoreless two innings in his first relief appearance since getting bumped from the rotation following the return of Mat Latos from the disabled list. … Brewers LHP Tom Gorzelanny tossed a scoreless sixth inning in his season debut after coming off the disabled list Saturday. Gorzelanny had offseason shoulder surgery. … The Reds have an off day Monday before starting a series Tuesday in Pittsburgh. … RHP Wily Peralta (6-5) has returned to the Brewers after attending to a personal matter in his native Dominican Republic. Peralta, who did not miss a start, said he is ready for his next outing Monday in Arizona.

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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