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Reds lose 3-0 to Wood, Cubs

By WTOP Staff

GARY SCHATZ
Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) — Johnny Cueto was upset. Not by the lack of run support from the Cincinnati Reds. It was the rain that bothered the ace right-hander.

Cueto surrendered Anthony Rizzo’s 30th homer during a wet first inning, and the Reds went on to a 3-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

“I was upset,” he said with catcher Brayan Pena serving as his interpreter. “They knew it was going to rain. They should’ve called timeout and not started the game. I was afraid I was going to hit him with a pitch. I couldn’t grip the ball.”

Starlin Castro, in his first game back from the bereavement list, followed with a single as the rain increased, forcing a 50-minute delay just five minutes into the game.

Arismendy Alcantara added a two-run shot in the seventh for the Cubs, who have won four in a row for the first time since June 30-July 4.

“The pitch was high and out of the zone,” Cueto said. “I think it was a hit and run. If he didn’t have to swing he wouldn’t have.”

Travis Wood pitched six innings of two-hit ball against his former team for his first win in two months.

“I thought both pitchers handled the rain delay very well,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “Here in the Midwest you have to expect those popup showers. There is nothing you can do about it. Woody commanded both sides of the plate with his cutter. He didn’t give us anything good to hit.”

Cincinnati was shut out for the 12th time this season. Cueto (15-8) struck out eight in 6 1-3 innings in his second straight loss after winning seven consecutive decisions.

Wood (8-11) struck out five and walked one in his first victory since he pitched eight innings in a 3-0 win at Philadelphia on June 15. The left-hander, who made the All-Star team last season, was 0-6 with a 5.45 ERA in his previous 12 starts.

He improved to 2-5 with a 3.30 ERA in nine career starts against the Reds, who selected him in the second round of the 2005 draft.

Neil Ramirez struck out the side in the seventh, Pedro Strop pitched the eighth and Hector Rondon finished for his 22nd save.

Rizzo went deep with two out in the first, driving a 2-1 pitch into the seats in right. The All-Star first baseman joined Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton as the only two National Leaguers with at least 30 home runs.

Alcantara followed Matt Szczur’s leadoff single in the seventh with his fifth homer of the season and second in two games. He also homered on Sunday against Baltimore in Chicago’s final home game before embarking on a seven-game, six-day road trip.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Jacob Turner makes his first start for Chicago after two relief appearances since being acquired from Miami on Aug. 8.

Reds: RHP and new father Mat Latos, hurt by blown saves in two of his last three starts, makes his second start of the season against Chicago.

HOMER BINGE

The Cubs have hit at least one home run in 10 consecutive games for their longest such stretch since a 10-game run from Aug. 2 through Aug. 12, 2011.

CELEBRATION TIME

RHP Daniel Corcino celebrated his 24th birthday by making his major league debut, pitching the ninth for Cincinnati. He was recalled from Double-A Pensacola on Friday.

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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