Skip to main content

Shift works but Dodgers lose 3-2 to Padres

By WTOP Staff

BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A four-man shift by the Los Angeles Dodgers worked against San Diego Padres left-handed hitter Seth Smith.

A traditional infield against Yasmani Grandal did not.

Grandal singled in the winning run with two outs in the 12th inning and the Padres beat the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 Friday night.

Earlier in the inning, the Dodgers used a five-man infield, including a four-man shift against left-handed hitting Seth Smith, all stationed between first and second.

With runners on second and third and a 1-1 count to Abraham Almonte, the Dodgers brought in center fielder Andre Ethier to play first base, with Adrian Gonzalez playing between first and second. Almonte walked. The Dodgers then went to a four-man shift against Smith. He grounded to second baseman Dee Gordon, who forced Amarista at home.

“We haven’t used it with everyone all on one side,” manager Don Mattingly said. “Seth is a shift guy for us and if you have five guys, you just put four on that side. It’s at that point of the game and you have to do it.”

Grandal then singled to right on a 3-2 pitch to bring in Solarte with the winning run.

“We had a chance to get out of the inning,” catcher A.J. Ellis said. “You have to throw a strike and he’s got to put a swing on the ball and he found a hole.”

Amarista started the winning rally with a single to left off San Diego native Kevin Correia (2-2). Yangervis Solarte walked with one out and both runners advanced on a wild pitch.

Tim Stauffer (5-2) pitched the 12th for the win.

The Dodgers’ Hanley Ramirez hit a tying homer with one out the eighth and also had an RBI double among his three hits. Justin Turner also had three hits for the Dodgers, the sixth time in his last eight games that he’s had multiple hits.

With the homer, Ramirez atoned for a painful baserunning slip-up two innings earlier. He hit a 2-1 pitch from Dale Thayer an estimated 390 feet into the middle deck on the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner to tie it at 2. It was his 13th.

Ramirez had a misadventure in the sixth, when he hit a leadoff single and slipped and fell while rounding the bag. He limped back to the bag, but Padres manager Bud Black called for a review. Replay showed that Ramirez was tagged out by Yasmani Grandal as he hopped toward the bag.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth before Dee Gordon hit into a force.

San Diego’s Andrew Cashner pitched six strong innings but was left with his 10th straight start without a win since his last victory, April 16 against Colorado.

Cashner struck out eight and walked none while holding the Dodgers to one run and six hits. He was making his second start since returning from his second stint on the disabled list, a two-month stay due to a sore right shoulder.

Dating to June 11, 2013, Cashner has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 15 consecutive home starts.

Dan Haren also went six innings, allowing two runs, one earned, and five hits. He struck out three and walked one.

Rene Rivera hit a sacrifice fly for San Diego in the second. L.A. tied it on Ramirez’s double in the third before San Diego went ahead on Alexi Amarista’s RBI single in the fourth.

YASIEL PUIG

The Dodgers outfielder didn’t start because Mattingly thought he seemed frustrated. Plus, Puig was 1 for 11 with four strikeouts against Cashner.

Puig pinch-hit for Dan Haren in the seventh and struck out against Nick Vincent to end the inning.

JUSTIN TURNER

With three hits, the third baseman improved to .375 (30 for 80) with a home run, six doubles and 10 RBIs since the All-Star break. He improved to .362 (25 for 69) against the Padres.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: Manager Don Mattingly said LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu will come off the disabled list and start Sunday’s series finale.

Padres: SS Everth Cabrera, on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, is feeling better and getting closer to being activated, manager Bud Black said.

UP NEXT

In the middle game of the series Saturday night, Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke (12-8, 2.75) opposes San Diego RHP Ian Kennedy (10-11, 3.75). On June 12, 2013, Kennedy, then with Arizona, was one of six players and coaches ejected after a brawl with the Dodgers. Kennedy hit Yasiel Puig and Greinke with high pitches.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote