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Astros’ Cosart struggles early in 7-3 loss

By WTOP Staff

JEREMY RAKES
Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — Jarred Cosart’s next start will be about toning it down in the first two innings.

Plagued by early-inning jitters and command issues, Cosart gave up five runs in the first two innings, and the Houston Astros couldn’t recover and lost to the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Saturday night.

“It was a tale of two innings, obviously,” Cosart said. “Pretty self-explanatory. It’s the same as always when I have a bad game. I just didn’t throw strikes.”

Jason Castro had two hits, including a two-run home run in the first that put the Astros up 2-1. Jose Altuve added three hits for Houston, which lost its fourth straight and fell a season-high 20 games below .500 (42-62).

Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run double, and Jordany Valdespin added a two-run home run to power Miami.

Stanton’s double in the second inning broke a 2-2 tie. Christian Yelich had two hits, including an RBI single as part of the four-run frame. Valdespin hit his first homer of the season in the ninth off Chad Qualls.

Shaky starts are nothing new to Cosart (9-7), who has struggled in July, allowing 21 runs in 21 1-3 innings over four starts.

Cosart’s wildness got him in trouble when he walked the bases loaded in the second, setting up run-scoring hits by Yelich and Stanton.

Casey McGehee had given Miami a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first.

Cosart settled in after that forgettable second and, stayed in the game longer than expected — going 5 2-3 innings after throwing over 50 total pitches in the opening two frames.

“That puts you behind the eight-ball,” Astros manager Bo Porter said. “I looked up after the second inning, I didn’t think he was going to make it to 5 2-3.

“To his credit he was able to regroup and give us some length, which was very much needed.”

Porter didn’t hesitate to point out the source of Cosart’s early troubles.

“I think it starts with fastball command,” Porter said.

Cosart allowed five runs and seven hits, struck out four and walked four.

The Astros went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position against Koehler and finished 1 for 12 overall. Houston left runners in scoring position in each inning from the second to the seventh.

The third inning was particularly frustrating for Houston.

Altuve and Marwin Gonzalez started the third with singles before Carter lined a ball to Marlins starter Tom Koehler that went off the right-hander’s back and was caught by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria. Koehler struck out Castro and Matt Dominguez to end the inning.

“It’s just one of those things,” Porter said. “We had some opportunities. We were just not able to get the big hit.”

Castro was quick to admit the offense didn’t give Cosart the run support he needed.

“He did a great job settling down,” Castro said. “He started throwing better as the game progressed. I think he was a little amped up before the game.”

His advice for Cosart?

“Start in the third, basically, his next outing,” Castro said. “Skip those first two and make sure he gets those first two-inning jitters out of the way.”

Koehler (7-7) gave up three runs and nine hits with two strikeouts in five innings.

NOTES: After the game, Houston placed RHP Josh Zeid on the disabled list with a left foot injury. The Astros also optioned RHP Brad Peacock to Triple-A Oklahoma City to work on his fastball command, Porter said. LHP Brett Oberholtzer will start in Peacock’s place Monday against Oakland. … Houston RHP Collin McHugh will be activated from the disabled list to start on Sunday. McHugh, 4-8 with a 3.28 ERA, has been out since July 7 because of an injury to his right middle finger. McHugh, who last started in the majors on July 6 in a loss at the Los Angeles Angels, threw five innings in a rehab outing Tuesday for Oklahoma City. Miami will start RHP Jacob Turner, 3-6 with a 6.03 ERA. … Gonzalez returned to the lineup after missing Friday’s game because of soreness in his right hamstring.

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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