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Dodgers’ big inning leads to win

By WTOP Staff

JOSE M. ROMERO
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Major League Baseball’s replay review system probably needs some tweaking, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson feels.

Nevertheless, Gibson would have done exactly what his Los Angeles Dodgers counterpart, Don Mattingly, did in the Dodgers’ 9-5 win over the Diamondbacks Tuesday night.

The Dodgers plated six runs in the fourth inning thanks in large part to two overturned out calls and cruised to their 11th win in 15 games against Arizona this season.

With the game tied at 2, the Dodgers hit five consecutive singles off Arizona starter Trevor Cahill (3-9) in the fourth. The Dodgers led 4-2 when A.J. Ellis singled to center field. The throw beat Carl Crawford to home plate, but an umpire- initiated review on whether catcher Miguel Montero was blocking the plate led to the crew to see that the ball was in his other hand. The initial out call was overturned.

Mattingly came out of the dugout with a purpose, to make the umpires check the replay without having to challenge the call. He later said he intended to challenge if the umpires didn’t review the play first.

Gibson knew what was going on.

“Every manager is going to do it that way,” Gibson said. “It was pretty close. I don’t know what they were looking at. I saw it on the video board, but you are at their mercy. They have the best angle in New York. I know that.

“The whole blocking the plate thing, if you look at it, they (umpires) are doing the best they can, but I think you see inconsistencies the way it is interpreted,” Gibson said.

The next batter, pitcher Roberto Hernandez, was called out at first base on a bunt past the pitcher’s mound. But Mattingly challenged that call and Hernandez was ruled safe, allowing Justin Turner to score on the play and make the score 6-2. A Dee Gordon single and sacrifice fly from Adrian Gonzalez brought in the last two runs of the inning.

Hernandez (8-9) made it through six innings and allowed three runs on six hits to improve to 2-1 with the Dodgers. Cahill was through after 3 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits.

“None of my offspeed was working so I had to throw a lot of fastballs,” Cahill said. “I was either wild or wild in the zone with that.”

Ender Inciarte finished with two hits and three runs batted in for the Diamondbacks. The Dodgers improved to 41-26 on the road — the best road record in the majors.

Matt Kemp’s homer in the first gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead, then Inciarte tied the score with a two-out single in the second.

A VOTE FOR KERSHAW

Gibson would have no problem voting for Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw for NL Most Valuable Player, though Kershaw appears in every fifth game. “You try to keep it to this year, but it’s just so impressive what he does year after year after year,” Gibson said. “The roll that he’s on. You’d have a hard time not drafting him first in your fantasy league, wouldn’t you? You have to give him credit for continuing to get better with what he’s got. He has the will and determination to not stop where he’s at. That’s what separates him.”

ON DECK

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw takes a 9-7 career record and 2.61 ERA against Arizona into Wednesday’s start. Kershaw (15-3, 1.82 ERA) is 12-1 with a 1.30 ERA in his last 15 starts. He’s 2-1 against the Diamondbacks this season but has given up nine earned runs in 15 1/3 innings.

Diamondbacks: LHP Wade Miley has a career high 157 strikeouts going into Wednesday’s start. He’s 7-9 on the year with a 4.29 ERA and is 3-4 with a 4.13 ERA in his career against the Dodgers. He’s allowed three runs or less in eight of 11 career starts against L.A.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu threw a bullpen session before Tuesday’s game, and after facing hitters in a simulated game Wednesday could come off the disabled list and start Sunday at San Diego. Ryu is coming back from a right hip strain and has been on the DL since Aug. 15. If he doesn’t get the start, Hernandez will take his place. LHP Paco Rodriguez (shoulder) also threw in the bullpen on Tuesday.

Diamondbacks: 1B Paul Goldschmidt had a CT scan on his broken left hand on Tuesday and will not need surgery. He’ll start doing strengthening exercises in the next couple of weeks, Gibson said. Gibson is also hoping LHP Patrick Corbin can pitch again for the team next May or June. Corbin is on the 60-day DL after Tommy John surgery in March.

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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