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Sandoval’s double in 9th sends Giants over Mets

By WTOP Staff

DOUG GOULD
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — His nickname is Kung Fu Panda. The New York Mets probably have other, not so cute, monikers for Pablo Sandoval.

Sandoval drove in three runs with three hits, including a go-ahead double with two outs in the ninth inning Monday that propelled the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 victory over the New York Mets.

“You know Pablo, he gets a little anxious sometimes,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “But you can tell he’s comfortable up there and seeing the ball well and he fought off some tough pitches, too. Not once, but two, three times today.”

San Francisco took three of four at Citi Field while the Mets dropped a home series for the first time since June 10-12 against Milwaukee.

Sandoval, who hit a two-run double in the third off Dillon Gee that tied the game at 2, delivered again in the ninth.

Gregor Blanco singled with two outs off Mets closer Jenrry Mejia (5-4). Blanco stole second and, after Buster Posey drew his fourth walk of the game, Sandoval sliced a ground-rule double into the seats down the left-field line.

Mejia, the Mets’ sixth pitcher of the afternoon, had allowed just one earned run since June 18.

“I don’t try to do too much in those situations,” Sandoval said. “I just try to get a good pitch to hit. I try to focus on the moment.”

Sandoval is hitting .344 (32 for 93 over his past 23 games. The 2012 World Series MVP has 13 hits in his last 25 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Sergio Romo (5-3) got the win with one scoreless inning and Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save.

The Mets, who got a two-run, first-inning homer from Daniel Murphy and an RBI infield single by David Wright in the fifth off Tim Hudson, took a 3-2 lead into the seventh. But the Giants tied it off Jeurys Familia, ending his streak of 13 relief appearances since June 30 without permitting an earned run.

Hunter Pence, who had two doubles, two triples and two homers in the series, led off with a long drive that glanced off the glove of leaping left fielder Chris Young as center fielder Juan Lagares also jumped for the ball at the wall.

After Blanco walked, Familia threw a wild pitch that made it 3-all. Sandoval singled, but Lagares threw out Blanco at the plate.

That only set up another chance for Sandoval.

“He hits anything,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “He hits the ball off the plate, he hits it all over the field. That’s why they’re a good team, because that guy drives in a lot of runs.”

Hudson left after five innings. In his previous start at Citi Field, he was carried off the field with a season-ending broken ankle after a collision at first base on July 24, 2013, while with Atlanta.

WHO NEEDS ‘EM?

Giants left fielder Juan Perez had put his sunglasses on top of his hat, just in case he needed them on an overcast day. When Curtis Granderson hit a long drive over his head in the third, Perez yanked the sunglasses off his cap and carried them in his bare right hand while making a running catch on the warning track.

DEJECTED AND EJECTED

Collins was tossed at the end of the seventh by plate umpire Ben May for arguing balls and strikes. It was his second ejection of the season.

SUBURBAN SUCCESS

Giants rookie second baseman Joe Panik from Yonkers, New York, had a career-high three hits after entering the game batting .203. He starred in college at nearby St. John’s.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: Posey was struck in the mask by Lucas Duda’s foul tip in the seventh. Bochy and trainer Dave Groeschner came out, but Posey stayed in the game. Giants backup catcher Hector Sanchez already is on the disabled list because of a concussion. He traveled Monday from New York to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Fresno. … Outfielder Angel Pagan (back inflammation) could return to the Giants by the weekend.

Mets: Matt Harvey, who threw off a mound Friday at Citi Field for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last October, is scheduled to do the same Tuesday at the team’s spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

ON DECK

Giants: San Francisco plays the fifth of a 10-game road trip with a three-game set starting Tuesday night in Milwaukee. Giants righty Tim Lincecum (9-7, 4.21 ERA) faces Jimmy Nelson (1-2, 4.30). It will be the first meeting of the teams this season.

Mets: New York begins a three-game series Tuesday night in Washington. Mets righty Zack Wheeler (6-8, 3.60) faces Gio Gonzalez (6-7, 3.88). The Nats have won five of six meetings against the Mets this season. They meet 13 times in the final eight weeks.

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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