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D-backs top Pirates in 10th when throw hits runner

By WTOP Staff

JOSE M. ROMERO
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Nick Ahmed provided the big hit of the day for the Arizona Diamondbacks — with his left forearm.

Ahmed was struck by a potential double play relay as he slid into second base in the 10th inning, and the Diamondbacks wound up beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 Sunday.

With runners at the corners and one out, Andy Marte hit a grounder to shortstop Jordy Mercer, who flipped to second baseman Jayson Nix for a forceout.

Ahmed came in with his arms raised up, and was hit by Nix’s throw. The ball rolled away, allowing Tuffy Gosewich to score the winning run.

“That’s the way we’re taught to slide and play the game. Go in hard and late and it wasn’t a dirty play in my mind at all,” Ahmed said.

Manager Clint Hurdle and the Pirates lingered on the field to argue with the umpires, to no avail. There was no video review of the final play, and crew chief Ron Kulpa said the call couldn’t be challenged.

After the game, the umpires looked at a replay for their own sake. Second base umpire Lance Barrett stood by his no-call on interference and Kulpa backed him.

“The guy has to do something obviously, willfully, intentionally to break up that double play. Guys slide into second base all the time with their hands up,” Kulpa said.

“When Lance told him what he had, we talked about it, but Clint wasn’t very irate. It’s a big play. We looked at the tape, and Lance got it right,” he said.

Hurdle felt otherwise.

“I felt there was an extra effort in getting his hands up, in the way,” he said.

Ahmed had a bandage over his arm after the game.

“I was anticipating if the ball was on the ground trying to go in hard and breaking up two,” Ahmed said. “I went in hard and slid late, and it looked like Nix kind of dropped down to try to make the throw and it just hit me in the arm.”

Gosewich doubled with one out in the 10th and Ahmed walked. A wild pitch by Mark Melancon (1-3) moved Gosewich to third.

Diamondbacks reliever Evan Marshall (4-2) escaped a one-out, second-and-third jam in the top of the 10th by striking out pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez and Travis Snider.

Arizona starter Trevor Cahill was in line for just his second win this season, but reliever Brad Ziegler struggled for the second straight day.

The Pirates tied it in the eighth on Josh Harrison’s single, Gregory Polanco’s double and Andrew McCutchen’s sacrifice fly.

McCutchen left the game moments later with left side discomfort.

AHOY!

The Pirates signed Nix before Sunday’s game. He was released by Tampa Bay on Friday and also played for Philadelphia earlier this season. Nix entered the game in the eighth and soon was involved in the key play.

The Pirates optioned infielder Brent Morel, who went 2 for 2 with three RBIs in Saturday night’s 8-3 win over Arizona, to Triple-A Indianapolis. He was 3 for 16 in nine games with the Pirates.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: Second baseman Neil Walker missed a second straight game with lower back tightness. He’ll get one more day of rest with the Pirates getting Monday off and is expected to be ready to play Tuesday against Miami. … Outfielder Starling Marte went 1 for 4 in a rehab game with Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. He’s coming back from a concussion.

Diamondbacks: Outfielder Cody Ross went swimming in a pool on Saturday, but is still a ways off, manager Kirk Gibson said. Ross has been on the disabled list since July 22 with a left calf injury. … Outfielder A.J. Pollock (hand) doubled in two at-bats in a rookie league game Saturday and could soon be sent to Triple-A Reno to continue his rehab.

ON DECK

Pirates: After an off-day Monday, right-hander Charlie Morton gets the call against the Marlins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Morton has worked at least seven innings in eight starts this season. He’s 5-3 all-time against the Marlins.

Diamondbacks: Left-hander Wade Miley (7-7) starts the opener of a three-game home series against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. He’s 4-1 in his last six starts and the teams is 4-0 in his last four home starts.

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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