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Blue Jays’ Encarnacion hopes for swift return

By WTOP Staff

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Edwin Encarnacion’s face showed signs of anguish, the result of a right quad strain that will keep him out of the All-Star game and, more importantly, out of the Toronto lineup for at least two weeks.

Encarnacion was on the bench Sunday when the Oakland Athletics completed a four-game sweep of the Blue Jays with a 4-2 victory. Toronto fell two games behind the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles.

“It hurts us not having him on the team,” said Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, who was also chosen to the AL All-Star team, along with left-hander Mark Buehrle. “The No. 1 priority is to get him better.”

The Blue Jays managed just five hits against Jeff Samardzija, who made his Oakland debut, and closer Sean Doolittle. Without Encarnacion in the lineup, Bautista doesn’t have the same support.

“I’m happy to be named an All-Star,” Encarnacion said. “I won’t be playing. I will be working my leg to get back to the field as soon as I can.”

Encarnacion was injured in the first inning of Saturday’s loss after he drove in a run.

Bautista, nursing a hamstring injury, made a rare start at first base in Encarnacion’s place.

“It was sore but I was able to run and make plays,” Bautista said. “It shouldn’t be too long before I’m back in right field.”

Depending on the way things change over the next week, Bautista said he is ready to play anywhere, whether it be the outfield, first base or third base.

“Throw me in the fire,” he said. “If playing third gives us our best lineup, so be it. We can’t afford to be picky. We have to strap it on and do it.”

The Blue Jays managed four runs during the four-game series, which included a 1-0 loss in 12 innings on Friday.

“We got shut down big time,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “We had chances, it didn’t happen. We’re just not producing.”

Stephen Vogt singled and tripled to help the A’s complete their first series sweep of the Blue Jays since taking a three-game series in 2000. Oakland hadn’t swept a four-game series from Toronto since May 22-24, 1981.

Steve Tolleson hit a pinch-hit home run off closer Sean Doolittle in the ninth for the Blue Jays, who have lost six straight on the road. It was his first career pinch-homer.

Toronto got a stellar outing from starter Drew Hutchison, but for the fourth straight game had little success offensively. The Blue Jays went 0 for 18 with runners in scoring position during the series.

“I thought I threw the ball well except for the two walks in the sixth,” Hutchison said. “The only pitch I’d like back is the 1-2 change that went for a double.”

Samardzija pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the first by getting Bautista to ground into an inning-ending double play. Samardzija retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced until Jose Reyes singled with one out in the sixth.

Munenori Kawasaki followed with a double, and Melky Cabrera’s groundout scored Reyes.

Hutchison (6-7) struck out four and walked two in his first career start against the A’s.

NOTES: Cole Gillespie went hitless in three at-bats for Toronto after being claimed off waivers. … Toronto OF Brad Glenn, who recorded his first major league hit on Saturday, was designated for assignment. The Blue Jays also claimed OF/DH Nolan Reimold off waivers from Baltimore. … LHP JA Happ (7-4) takes the hill for the Blue Jays in their series opener at the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.

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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