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Archer rankled by Ortiz, Bosox end TB’s win streak

By WTOP Staff

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Chris Archer saved his brushback pitch for David Ortiz until after the game.

Ortiz hit a three-run homer to help the Boston Red Sox end Tampa Bay’s nine-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory over the Rays on Sunday.

Ortiz flipped his bat and took his time rounding the bases after his 25th home run, a shot off Archer’s changeup in the third. That was enough for Boston to stop its losing skid at five.

Archer served an up-and-in fastball postgame, reiterating comments made earlier this season by teammate David Price that the Red Sox slugger thinks he is bigger than the game.

“All my interactions with him off the field have been good. But when it comes to him on the field, I don’t know what makes him think that he can showboat the way he does, and then nobody retaliates,” Archer said.

“I don’t know why he feels like that. But obviously he feels the way David (Price) said he does, he feels like he’s bigger than the game. He feels like the show is all about him,” he said.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Ortiz’s action caused him to pause and reflect.

“He played it up pretty good,” Maddon said. “He’s an iconic figure in that city, and I’ve always thought of him a very classy person. The man has meant so much for the game and also back in his country. There’s those moments that occur like that. I’m not saying that my respect diminished, it’s just something that makes you think a little bit more.”

Said Ortiz: “I tell you, man, maybe they get too sensitive about things. Just leave it like that.”

“He’s a guy that I think he’s going to be pretty good,” Ortiz said about Archer, “but it’s going to take some time to get to that level.”

“There’s always going to be comments out there. He’s not the right guy to be saying that, I don’t think. He’s got two days in the league,” he said, adding some expletives.

Price and Ortiz had a verbal skirmish after a May 30 game when Price hit Ortiz with a pitch. The pair faced each other in the series opener Friday night, and the matchup was incident-free.

Archer (6-6) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings, losing for the first time since June 24.

Ortiz’s homer was his fifth in seven games and his 29th at Tropicana Field, most among visiting players. It was the 456th of his career.

Desmond Jennings drove in the Tampa Bay’s runs with a double off Boston starter Allen Webster in the third.

Webster (1-0) pitched 5 1-3 innings in his major league season debut, giving up two runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four. He left after Jackie Bradley caught Evan Longoria’s 400-foot line drive before crashing into the center field wall in the sixth.

Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his 21st save, striking out the last three batters.

The win was the first of the season for the Red Sox at Tropicana Field, where they had lost five straight.

NOTES: Derrick Brooks, who will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame next month, threw the ceremonial first pitch. … The Rays open a three-game interleague series Monday night with RHP Jake Odorizzi (6-8) pitching against Milwaukee RHP Kyle Lohse (11-4).

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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