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Frustrated Rangers fall to Indians 4-3 in 12

By WTOP Staff

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rangers manager Ron Washington had a difficult time hiding his frustration following a 4-3 loss to Cleveland in 12 innings Sunday.

It’s easy to see why.

Texas was two outs from recording a rare road win when closer Neftali Feliz gave up a two-run homer in the ninth to former Ranger David Murphy that tied the game.

Michael Brantley’s leadoff shot in the 12th off rookie Phil Klein sent the Rangers to their 19th loss in their last 22 road games, including a three-game sweep by the Indians.

“We put ourselves in position to win, but we just didn’t close the game off,” Washington said. “We got the ball to the ninth inning and didn’t get it done. I’m giving guys opportunities because I feel at some point, they’re going to take advantage, but you have to execute pitches.”

The Rangers, who have the worst record in the majors at 43-68, received a strong seven-inning start from Yu Darvish, who was denied his 11th win. The All-Star right-hander allowed one run on Murphy’ RBI double while striking out eight.

“I think it was Murphy’s day today,” Darvish said through a translator. “He made pretty good swings and made some very good plays in the field.”

Neal Cotts followed with a scoreless eighth before Feliz blew his first save in four opportunities since returning to the role following Joakim Soria’s trade to Detroit.

Feliz, who underwent Tommy John surgery two years ago, said he is fully healthy. The scoreboard radar gun measured his fastballs in the upper 80s, instead of the low 90s that he has been reaching.

“I felt great, the results just weren’t what I wanted today,” Feliz said. “Ever since the surgery, I’ve had a few setbacks, but I’m trying to excel.”

Washington agreed, saying, “He just didn’t make the pitches and it cost him.”

Klein (0-1), who grew up in the Columbus area and played at Youngstown State, was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday. He gave up a home run to Lonnie Chisenhall — the first hitter he faced in his major league debut — that night.

The Rangers took a 3-0 lead in the first two innings against Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer. Alex Rios, Rougned Odor, and Shin-Soo Choo provided the RBIs, but Texas only managed five hits over the next 10 innings.

DON’T FORGET YOUR GLOVE

Choo was the designated hitter for the second straight game, but Washington said it won’t be his permanent role. While a sore ankle has limited Choo defensively, he will still play left field. “I will give him some days at DH and I’ll give him some back-to-back days in the outfield,” Washington said.

HOT IN CLEVELAND

Elvis Andrus owns a .396 career batting average at Progressive Field, which is the highest by any player with at least 90 plate appearances. His 25-game hitting streak in Cleveland is the longest in Rangers history in a visiting city. Andrus has hits in 43 of his 44 career games against Cleveland.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers left-hander Derek Holland (left knee surgery), who has yet to pitch in the majors this season, will make his second rehab start Monday at Triple-A Round Rock. He tossed two scoreless innings Wednesday for Double-A Frisco.

ON DECK

Rangers right-hander Nick Martinez (1-7) takes on White Sox righty Hector Noesi (5-8) in the opener of a three-game series Monday in Chicago. Martinez, who will be pitching on five days’ rest, is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts since returning from an injury to his left side.

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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