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Utley, Hamels lead Phillies over Brewers 3-2

By WTOP Staff

JIM HOEHN
Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) — This time, the little run support Cole Hamels got was enough for him and the Philadelphia Phillies to beat the slumping Milwaukee Brewers.

Chase Utley hit a two-run homer, and Hamels allowed one earned run in 6 2-3 innings for his first victory in a month as the Phillies edged the Brewers 3-2 on Monday night.

Hamels (3-5) allowed two runs and seven hits, struck out seven and walked two for his first victory since June 6 — a span of six starts.

“I had a little bit of trouble with trying to get ahead of these guys,” said Hamels, who has allowed 10 earned runs in 55 2-3 innings in his last eight starts. “I know they’re a really good hitting team. So, it’s not like I want to lay balls right down the middle.

“I know they’ve got the power numbers to hit it out of the ball park, so I kind of put myself in some tight situations with trying to be too fine with the early pitches and then having to pitch out of jams. But, got some good defense. It’s just good to have some runs.”

Ken Giles finished the seventh and worked the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 20th save in 22 chances.

“All three guys were outstanding,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. “That’s what it took for the win. That type of effort by them, with the early offense, which was nice, but we weren’t able to add on.”

Philadelphia rebounded after falling a season-high 14 games below .500 on Sunday when Pittsburgh completed a series sweep. Dating to last season, the Phillies also had lost 14 consecutive games and 27 of 28 when scoring three runs or fewer.

Utley, the starting National League All-Star second baseman, staked the Phillies to a 2-0 lead in the first with his seventh homer, driving an 0-1 pitch from Marco Estrada (7-6) over the right-field wall. It was the 27th home run allowed by Estrada, the most in the majors.

It was the sixth loss in seven games for the Brewers, who have had sole possession of first place in the NL Central since April 9.

The Phillies extended the lead to 3-0 in the third when Utley singled with two outs. He then scored from first on Ryan Howard’s single to right-center.

Jeff Bianchi’s pinch-single pulled the Brewers within 3-2 in the fifth. Milwaukee loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Khris Davis, Mark Reynolds reaching on an error by third baseman Cody Asche, and a single by Jean Segura. Bianchi then lined an opposite-field, two-run single just over the glove of first baseman Howard.

Right fielder Marlon Byrd helped limit the damage by throwing out Segura at third on the play. Hamels then enticed Rickie Weeks to bounce into a force out and retired Ryan Braun on a ground out.

“I thought Hamels threw the ball well,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “When he got people on base, he made some really good pitches. We had a few opportunities — not a lot — but we had a few to get a big at-bat and we didn’t get the big at-bat.”

Hamels also escaped in the seventh inning when Davis drew a leadoff walk, and Reynolds launched a towering drive down the left-field line that narrowly hooked foul.

“I was hoping it would hit the pole,” said Reynolds, who has been stuck on 13 home runs since June 2. “I got out in front of a changeup a little bit and just hooked it a little too much. Barely.”

NOTES: Braun, who missed Sunday’s game in Cincinnati after leaving in the second inning on Saturday because of lower-back spasms, started in right field. He was removed for a pinch-runner after doubling to open the eighth. … New Marquette men’s basketball coach Steve Wojciechowski threw out the first pitch. . The Brewers traded minor league right-hander Rodolfo Fernandez to Oakland for International Signing Bonus Slot No. 57 ($339,000). Fernandez was 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA and two saves in 14 relief appearances with the Timber Rattlers. . Papelbon has recorded at least 20 saves in nine consecutive seasons.

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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