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Duda’s HR leads Mets over Brewers, 3-2

By WTOP Staff

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Friday will rank as one of the best days in the career of New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda.

The first baseman hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to lead the Mets to a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Mets trailed 2-0 entering the ninth inning, but Daniel Murphy led off with a double off closer Francisco Rodriguez (4-4), who blew his fourth save of the season. David Wright followed with an RBI single.

Duda hit the first pitch he saw from Rodriguez into the Mets bullpen in right field. It was his career-high 17th home run of the season and his third in the last four games.

“I got a fastball and I was able to put the barrel of the bat on it,” he said. “It was a pretty special moment. I am glad I was able to help pick up the team and get this win.”

The Mets were still in the game thanks to a very good pitching performance by Zach Wheeler, who gave up only one hit through six innings before tiring in the seventh. He pitched 6 2-3 innings, giving up one earned run and three hits and had nine strikeouts.

Wheeler said he “was effectively wild throughout the game.”

“It worked to my advantage this time,” he said. “I felt good out there and was able to make key pitches to get some outs.”

Mets manager Terry Collins was glad his team could come back and make sure Wheeler did not get the loss.

“That was an outstanding performance by Wheeler,” Collins said. “He can go home and know that he did his job tonight.”

Collins said he was particularly pleased to see the hitting performances of Murphy, who had three hits, Wright, who had the single, and Duda.

“When those three guys are hitting, we are going to win games,” he said.

Carlos Torres (5-4) pitched the eighth inning to get the win. Jenrry Mejia gave up a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Jonathan Lucroy, but got the next three outs to record his 14th save in 16 chances.

The loss broke the Brewers’ four-game winning streak.

Rodriguez said it was a frustrating performance. The Brewers are 48-2 when leading after eight innings.

“They come out swinging and everything was up out over the plate,” he said. “Fortunately, it’s not my first rodeo. Not going to be the first one, won’t be the last one. That’s the reality.”

The home run spoiled a sparkling performance by Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo, who allowed four hits over 7 2-3 innings.

Gallardo, who has not won since June 19, retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced. With two outs in the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Eric Campbell was called out on a groundball, but the call was overturned after a replay review. Will Smith relieved Gallardo and struck out Curtis Granderson to end the inning.

“I think I was able to keep the ball down, both sides of the plate,” Gallardo said. “I had a pretty good curveball (and) was able to throw it for strikes.”

Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the sixth without a hit. Rickie Weeks walked and Ryan Braun hit a groundball that went through the legs of Murphy at second base for his second error of the game.

Aramais Ramirez grounded to shortstop Rueben Tejada, who got the out at second, but Ramirez beat Murphy’s throw to first and Weeks scored.

Carlos Gomez hit his 15th home run of the season with two outs in the seventh to boost Milwaukee’s lead to 2-0.

NOTES: Mets RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka returned to New York on Friday to have a doctor examine his right elbow. Matsuzaka pitched two innings and gave up three earned runs in the Mets’ 9-1 loss to Milwaukee on Thursday night. … Tejada was back in the lineup two days after being hit in the helmet by a pitch thrown by Mariners RHP Taijuan Walker. He didn’t play Thursday. … Brewers 2B Scooter Gennett probably will be able return to the lineup Sunday. Gennett hasn’t played since leaving Tuesday’s game against Cincinnati with tightness in his right quad. …The Brewers will send Wily Peralta (11-6) in the third game of the series against the Mets’ Jonathon Niese (5-5).

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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