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Astros blow lead in 4-3 loss to Athletics

By WTOP Staff

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Houston Astros had the lead in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics, so they gave the ball to closer Chad Qualls.

Bad idea.

Qualls surrendered a game-ending RBI single by Jed Lowrie, sending the Astros to a 4-3 loss on Saturday.

Josh Reddick hit a two-run double off Qualls (1-5) before Lowrie drove him in with a single to left. Oakland is hitting .571 (16 for 28) against Qualls this year.

“It’s been happening all year, I’m tired of it,” Qualls said. “Four of my five losses are against them. Four of my five blown saves are against them. I’m over it. There’s pretty much nothing to write.”

Lowrie, Josh Reddick and Coco Crisp had two hits apiece as Oakland snapped a three-game losing streak. Josh Donaldson started the A’s three-run ninth with a leadoff single, stopping an 0-for-15 slide.

Luke Gregerson (4-3) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

“We were looking a spark,” Lowrie said. “I think that’s the type of play that can start something big.”

The Astros had won five in a row.

Houston wasted a solid start by Scott Feldman, who was charged with three runs, two earned, and seven hits in 8 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA in his last eight starts, including two complete games.

“He was good, he was mixing his pitches, he was going in and out,” Astros manager Tom Lawless said. “He had them off stride. It’s tough for him because he did such a nice job.”

The Astros grabbed a 2-1 lead on Jose Altuve’s two-run double in the sixth against Scott Kazmir. Altuve extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games and leads major league baseball with a .340 batting average and 197 hits.

The All-Star second baseman has hit safely in 22 straight games against the A’s and in 34 of 37 contests against Oakland in his career.

Kazmir gave up three runs and three hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out eight and walked five.

Brandon Moss’ sacrifice fly in the third gave Oakland a 1-0 lead. But Houston increased its advantage to 3-1 on Robbie Grossman’s sacrifice fly in the sixth.

BONDS VISITS ASTROS

Home run king Barry Bonds watched Astros batting practice from behind the cage as a guest of outfielder Dexter Fowler, and spent most of his time giving tips to Houston first baseman Jon Singleton.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Lawless said outfielder Alex Presley (right oblique strain) is expected to start Sunday and play five innings, marking his first extended action since returning from the disabled list Tuesday.

Athletics: Closer Sean Doolittle (intercostal strain) played long toss and is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Monday in Chicago. … Catcher Stephen Vogt (sprained left ankle) wore a walking boot in the clubhouse and will be sidelined for “a little while,” according to manager Bob Melvin. … C John Jaso (concussion) is on track to be activated from the disabled list soon but likely won’t be catching.

UP NEXT

Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (10-9, 3.03 ERA) has pitched at least seven innings in seven of his past eight starts.

Athletics: RHP Jason Hammel (2-5, 4.98 ERA) is 2-1 with a 2.40 ERA his past five outings after going 0-4 with a 9.53 ERA in his first four starts with the A’s.

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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