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Braves score 6 runs in 3rd, beat Padres 8-3

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — Mike Minor is working to correct flaws in his mechanics that were discovered when he looked at this year’s results and matched them up to tape from his strong 2013 season.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he was enthused with the early results.

Minor gave up three runs, Chris Johnson and Ryan Doumit each drove in two runs during Atlanta’s six-run third inning and the Braves beat Eric Stults and the San Diego Padres 8-3 on Sunday.

“I thought it was better than a quality start,” Gonzalez said after Minor allowed eight hits in 6 2-3 innings. “It was outstanding and we’ll go from there.”

“I think the thing that was really, really visible was that his arm action and his delivery was there, I’m not going to say every pitch, but 90 percent of the time. He was able to command his fastball on both sides of the plate and that was because of his delivery.”

Though far less than dominant, the start was an improvement after Minor (4-6) gave up six runs in each of his last two outings. He had allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts.

“There are some mechanical things that we focused on,” Minor said. “There are some different things I’ve been doing this year. We looked at film of last year and we found three big things I was doing different this year. We tried to change them but I think it’s going to take time. I feel like it’s going to be hard to do it right in the middle of the season, so it’s going to be something that I will slowly adjust.”

Minor was 13-9 with a 3.21 ERA in 2013. His ERA is 5.32 after Sunday’s start.

The Braves trailed 1-0 before roughing up Stults (3-13).

Back-to-back doubles by Gerald Laird and Andrelton Simmons started the inning. Tommy La Stella hit an RBI single that skipped between Stults’ legs, Johnson had a two-run double before Doumit followed with a two-run single.

Yangervis Solarte led off the third with his first homer since his trade from the Yankees on Tuesday. Minor didn’t allow another run until Rene Rivera’s eighth homer with two outs in the sixth.

A few thousand fans arrived early to watch the Hall of Fame ceremonies on the Turner Field video board. Among the inductees were former Braves managers Bobby Cox and Joe Torre and pitchers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.

Gonzalez delayed optional batting practice so he and Braves players could watch with the fans.

Stults gave up six hits in Atlanta’s big inning and then allowed only one other baserunner on La Stella’s sixth-inning walk. La Stella was caught stealing to end the inning.

“You know, you come to a ballpark, you never know what you’re going to see,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “Eric Stults threw five no-hit innings. And in one inning he gave up six hits.

“Really, he deserved a better fate.”

Stults allowed six runs on six hits and two walks in six innings.

Minor left the game with two outs in the seventh and Denorfia on second base. Tommy Medica hit an RBI single off Anthony Vavaro to cut Atlanta’s lead to 6-3.

Justin Upton hit a two-run double in the Atlanta seventh.

Doumit made his fourth start of the season in right field as Gonzalez rested Jason Heyward. Gonzalez said he’ll give B.J. Upton a day off on Monday when Jordan Schafer starts in center.

After the game, Black announced the team will put outfielder Carlos Quentin on the 15-day disabled list on Monday because of a sore left knee. Second baseman Jedd Gyorko will come off the disabled list.

Gyorko has been out since June 4 with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Second baseman Brooks Conrad will be optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

NOTES: Converted OF Jason Lane will be recalled by the Padres from Triple-A El Paso to make his first major league start on Monday against the Braves. RHP Ian Kennedy’s turn in the rotation will be skipped due to a left oblique strain. Black said Kennedy sustained a “mild” oblique strain in an at-bat and is expected to make his next start. Lane threw 4 1-3 scoreless innings in two relief appearances with San Diego in June. RHP Ervin Santana will start for Atlanta.

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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