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Flande falters and Rockies lose 8-2 to Dodgers

By WTOP Staff

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies were done in — yet again — by their pitching.

The majors’ top-hitting team had shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Charlie Blackmon named to the NL All-Star team on Sunday, but the Rockies’ couldn’t keep pace with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense in an 8-2 loss.

Yohan Flande (0-2), making his third big league start since being promoted as a fill-in for Colorado’s injury-ravaged rotation, failed to get through the fifth inning. He pitched well until things came apart in the fifth, when the Dodgers struck for five runs on four hits, including a two-run single by Adrian Gonzalez and an RBI single by Matt Kemp, who finished with four hits on the day.

“Until that point, he had been pretty much cruising,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “He was throwing the ball well and then he ran into trouble.”

It was sixth loss in seven games for the Rockies, who have gone 3-17 since completing a sweep at San Francisco on June 15.

“We’ve really struggled,” Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau said. “It’s been tough. We’re still trying to stay positive, knowing anything can happen and that this team is still capable of going on a run.”

Josh Beckett (6-5) allowed three hits in five scoreless innings.

Juan Uribe added three hits for the Dodgers, who won three of four in the weekend series. They head to Detroit in first place in the NL West, a half-game ahead of San Francisco.

Tulowitzki, an All-Star starter with an NL-best 5.3 million votes, provided the few bright spots by scoring both of Colorado’s runs. Outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who made the Rockies out of spring training for the first time in his career, also capped a strong first half with his first All-Star game berth as a reserve.

“To be just a few months down the road — I could’ve easily not made the team — and here we are talking about the All Star game,” Blackmon said. “It’s just a blessing. I’m really amazed at what’s happened, and I’m happy to represent the Rockies there.”

Dodgers starters had gone 39 consecutive games in which they issued two or fewer walks, but Beckett walked three to end the streak. Hyun-Jin Ryu was the last Los Angeles starter to walk more than two, issuing five on May 26.

Beckett atoned with a one-out double that started a five-run fifth. Dee Gordon singled and Yasiel Puig, voted in as an NL All-Star starter, walked to load the bases.

Gonzalez hit a two-run single, Kemp followed with an RBI single and Scott Van Slyke walked.

Uribe singled to third off reliever Brooks Brown, scoring Gonzalez on a play at the plate. Umpire Jeff Kellogg called Gonzalez out but it was overturned after a 1-minute, 28-second review.

Brown hit Miguel Rojas to score Kemp and make it 5-0.

The Rockies scored an unearned run in the sixth off reliever Chris Perez and another off Brian Wilson in the eighth.

NOTES: The Rockies placed RHP Nick Masset on the 15-day DL with a left patellar tendon strain and recalled Brown from Triple-A Colorado Springs. … Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez (left middle finger surgery) will go on a rehab assignment starting Monday. … Morneau is among five players still in the running for an NL All-Star berth that will be decided by fan voting that ends Thursday.

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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