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NL loses All-Star game, and World Series advantage

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Clayton Kershaw did his part with a perfect inning. Jonathan Lucroy pitched in two RBI doubles. Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the seventh.

The National League, for all that pitching prowess, lost a second straight All-Star game. That means the American League will again have the home-field advantage again when the World Series arrives in three months.

With an RBI triple by MVP Mike Trout and a two-run home run by Miguel Cabrera in the first inning against Adam Wainwright, the AL topped the NL 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Wainwright, the St. Louis ace, was picked to start the game by his manager, Mike Matheny. Had the boss been anyone else, Kershaw likely would have had the honor. The Dodgers stalwart with the 1.78 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 14 starts took over for the second inning and kept the NL in it after Lucroy cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the first with the first of his big hits.

The Milwaukee catcher, inserted in the starting lineup for the injured Yadier Molina, hit another run-scoring double in the fourth to tie the game at 3. But Cardinals reliever Pat Neshek, pitching in the place he grew up, gave up two runs in the fifth to let the AL pull ahead for good.

Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez and Kimbrel, Atlanta’s rock at the back of the bullpen, turned in hitless innings to keep the NL close. But the AL’s late-game relievers were every bit as stingy.

So for All-Stars from teams like the Braves, Brewers, Cardinals and Dodgers, currently four of the top five teams in the league, they are stuck with the fact that they will have to play a Game 7 on the road should they make it all the way through the postseason and into a decisive game for the title.

That does make a difference.

Of the last 28 champions, 23 started the World Series at home, including the last five straight. Since Major League Baseball decided to award home-field advantage to the league that won the All-Star game, the AL is 9-3. The AL has won four of the last six World Series.

Lucroy wasn’t worried.

“Hey, that’s what it is. We’ll get there first, and then we’ll worry about it,” he said.

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, who had a tough couple of days getting shut out in the home run derby Monday and then striking out three times Tuesday, felt the same way Lucroy does.

“Doesn’t really matter. Start at home, start on the road,” Puig said through an interpreter. “You’ve got to be a good enough team, obviously, either way. It’s really the same thing to me. If we get there, I think we’ll be fine.”

Despite riding a slump into the All-Star break that left them only one game ahead of the Cardinals in the AL Central, the Brewers had a lot to be proud of with their first half. Lucroy, Carlos Gomez and Aramis Ramirez comprised one-third of the NL lineup. Rodriguez represented the pitching staff. Ramirez went 2 for 3 with a run and a double.

Gomez, asked if the Brewers would be able to build off this in the second half, wasn’t ready to think about resuming the pennant race.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m going to Wisconsin Dells and enjoy the last two days with my kids and take a rest and swim a little bit,” he said.

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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