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Frazier helps Reds beat Marlins 7-3

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Todd Frazier had a season-high four hits Sunday, including three on one good foot.

Frazier hobbled after being spiked on his left foot on a play at first base in the third inning, but he stayed in the game to help the Cincinnati Reds break out of an offensive slump and beat the Miami Marlins 7-3.

Afterward, Frazier was smiling even though he said his foot was throbbing. The Reds improved to 5-11 since the All-Star break and scored more than five runs for the first time during that stretch.

“Everybody did a good job manufacturing runs,” Frazier said. “We were hitting singles. We do have the power, but it goes to show you that we know how to get runs in doing little stuff.”

Cincinnati totaled 15 hits, all but one a single. Billy Hamilton scored three times and Devin Mesoraco hit a two-run single as the Reds built a 7-1 advantage — the sort of cushion unfamiliar to them lately.

“It was great to get the separation and build the lead,” manager Bryan Price said. “It’s nice to have some wiggle room. It’s a lot more fun.”

Mike Leake (9-9) struggled with his control but allowed only one run in six innings to help the Reds take three of four games in Miami. They are 4½ games behind NL Central leader Milwaukee.

“We’re still in this,” Leake said. “We’ve still got a chance. It’s up to us if we want to bear down and make it good year, or we want to throw it in.”

The Marlins managed only eight runs and 24 hits in the series, and they’ve lost to Cincinnati in eight of their past nine games.

Jacob Turner (4-7), starting in place of injured right-hander Henderson Alvarez, allowed five runs in four innings. That hiked his ERA to 5.97.

“I just couldn’t locate the fastball,” Turner said. “I left too many pitches over the middle. When you’re doing that on 2-0 counts, it’s a tough way to pitch.”

Zack Cozart’s two-out RBI single in the second put Cincinnati ahead. In the third inning, Hamilton and Jay Bruce each singled, stole second and scored. Bruce singled home Hamilton and scored on a double by Ryan Ludwick.

Two-out, run-scoring singles by Hamilton and Frazier in the fourth made it 5-0. The Reds went 7 for 18 with runners in scoring position.

Garrett Jones hit his 12th homer for the Marlins, who totaled five hits. They went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

A MIXED AFTERNOON

Giancarlo Stanton, the NL leader in home runs and RBIs, struck out four times for the second Sunday in a row. But he also robbed Kristopher Negron of an RBI extra-base hit when he made a long run for an over-the-shoulder catch near the right-field foul pole in the second inning.

LEAKE’S DAY

Leake improved to 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three career starts against Miami. He allowed only three hits but walked four.

The right-hander escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the third without allowing a run. Jordany Valdespin hit into a forceout, Stanton struck out and Casey McGehee grounded out.

“Not my best stuff, but I was able to throw some pitches when I needed to,” Leake said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

First baseman Frazier found himself in an awkward position when he couldn’t find the base with his left foot, and Valdespin stepped on it.

“I’m lucky — he could have taken my ankle right out,” Frazier said. “He had no room to get to the bag.”

Frazier came away limping, which earned him a visit from the trainer and Price.

“With as many injuries as we’ve had over the course of the year, I said, boy, not one more,” Price said. “We avoided disaster there.”

ON DECK

The Reds open a four-game series at Cleveland on Monday when Alfredo Simon (12-6, 2.84 ERA) pitches against Corey Kluber (11-6, 2.61). Simon is 0-3 since his first All-Star selection. The Reds have lost their past nine games in Cleveland, and they’re 0-5 on the road against American League teams this year.

The Marlins are off Monday and open a three-game series at Pittsburgh on Tuesday when Brad Hand (2-3, 4.15) pitches against Charlie Morton (5-10, 3.54). Miami has lost six consecutive games in Pittsburgh.

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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