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Lack of command dooms Kelly, Cards to 7-6 loss

By WTOP Staff

JOHN JACKSON
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — While Joe Kelly was resting between innings a foul ball shot into the visiting dugout at Wrigley Field and struck him flush on the left elbow.

The St. Louis Cardinals right-hander could only wish his pitches had such precision Friday.

While Kelly struggled with his command, Luis Valbuena hit a decisive two-run homer in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs overcame a three-run deficit to hand the Cardinals their fourth straight loss, 7-6.

The teams combined for five home runs and 23 hits with a persistent wind at their backs.

But Kelly felt the reason behind his shaky outing — five runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings — was his inability to spot his sinking fastball.

“The ball was leaking out, moving more than usual and I was kind of getting on the side of it,” he said. “I got two strikes on some hitters that I should be putting away, especially making better pitches.”

The Cardinals tied the score 5-5 on solo homers by Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday in the fifth inning. Pinch-hitter Oscar Taveras singled to break the tie in the sixth, but the lead was short-lived.

Kevin Siegrist (1-2) hit Anthony Rizzo with a full-count pitch to lead off the seventh. One batter later, Valbuena sent hit a first-pitch homer into the bleachers in center field.

“We had the matchups we wanted right there,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “We wanted (Siegrist) in that situation in that part of the lineup and a lefty ended up getting him.”

It was Valbuena’s first homer off a left-hander this season.

“I was looking for a fastball, and I got a fastball right there,” he said. “That’s why I got aggressive.”

Justin Grimm (3-2) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Hector Rondon retired the side in the ninth for his 12th save in 15 chances.

Cubs starter Travis Wood did well to survive five innings after a rocky start. He allowed five runs — two earned — and seven hits with one walk.

Wood aided his cause with a solo homer off Kelly in the fourth inning, his third of the season.

Ryan Sweeney’s three-run homer pulled Chicago even at 3-3 in the second inning. Kelly had not allowed an earned run in 18 1-3 innings against the Cubs before then. Both homers came on 1-2 pitches.

One inning later, Sweeney singled home Valbuena, who had walked, for a 4-3 lead.

“It was just bad all around today,” Kelly said. “I just wasn’t very good. I’m going to go and watch some video tomorrow and try to figure out how I can make pitches when I need to make pitches.

“Like I said, I was getting ahead and walked them or threw the ball 2 feet, 3 feet, not where it was supposed to go.”

St. Louis struck first with three unearned three runs in the opening inning, when Wood was forced to throw 32 pitches largely because of two errors behind him.

Carpenter and Holliday singled, then rookie second baseman Arismendy Alcantara threw away a potential double-play grounder that allowed a run to score.

One out later, Jon Jay hit a two-run double, and when left fielder Chris Coghlan allowed the ball to get past him, the batter advanced to third base on the second error of the inning.

NOTES: Cubs RHP Edwin Jackson is not expected to miss a start. He left the game in the sixth inning on Thursday because of cramps in his pitching hand. … OF Justin Ruggiano (groin) was not in the lineup for the second consecutive game but was available off the bench once again. … St. Louis RHP Shelby Miller will make his first start since July 10 on Saturday. The veteran had been moved to the bullpen because of a minor back ailment and pitched one innings in his only relief appearance. “I felt a little tired (before), but at the same time, you always want to be out there,” he said. “Right now, I feel really strong. My body is where it needs to be.” … The Cardinals have a 4-6 record since All-Star C Yadier Molina (thumb) was placed on the DL.

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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