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Ortiz’s 3-run homer helps Red Sox end skid

By WTOP Staff

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays didn’t like the way David Ortiz acted after he helped beat them with a three-run homer, and now it’s back on between the teams at the bottom of the AL East.

Ortiz’s shot off Chris Archer lifted the Boston Red Sox to a 3-2 victory Sunday that ended their five-game losing streak and also stopped the Rays’ nine-game winning string.

Archer (6-6) made a point of saying he didn’t appreciate Ortiz staring him down and flipping his bat before beginning his home run trot.

“He’s not the right guy to be saying that, I don’t think,” Ortiz said.

“He’s got two days in the league,” the slugger said, adding a couple of expletives.

Ortiz’s 25th home run came after a walk and Dustin Pedroia’s infield single in the third inning, giving Boston a 3-0 lead. It was his fifth homer in seven games and his 29th at Tropicana Field, most among visiting players.

“I don’t know what makes him think that he can showboat the way he does, and then nobody retaliates,” Archer said. “Nobody looks at him in a funny way or pitches him inside. 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.”

Price and Ortiz began feuding after Big Papi homered off the former AL Cy Young winner last fall in the AL championship series. Price hit Ortiz with a fastball earlier this season, leading to more verbal sparring.

“He played it up pretty good,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Ortiz’s homer. “”The man has meant so much for the game and also back in his country (the Dominican Republic), but 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.”

After hitting his 456th career homer, the 38-year-old Ortiz had the last word. For now, anyway.

“Maybe they get too sensitive about things, just leave it like that,” he said. “I think (Archer) is a good pitcher. I think he’s got great stuff. He’s a guy that I think he’s going to be pretty good, but it’s going to take some time to get to that level.”

The teams next meet in late August at Tampa Bay.

Desmond Jennings drove in both of the Rays runs with a double off Allen Webster in the third.

Webster (1-0) pitched 5 1-3 innings in his first game this year in the majors, giving up two runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four.

Webster 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. Pedroia and Daniel Nava had two hits each for the Red Sox, who did not have a hit over the last five innings.

The Rays’ nine-game winning streak was their longest in 10 years and the second-longest in franchise history.

NOTES: Boston manager John Farrell has talked with backup INF-OF Mike Carp, who recently requested a trade. “I respect his desire to play more, and yet we’ve been very consistent with his role,” Farrell said. “I understand when players want to get on the field more consistently.” … 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). … Boston RHP Clay Buchholz (5-6) and Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (8-10) are the scheduled starters Monday night in the opener of a three-game series.

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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