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Cubs’ lineup struggles in 2 losses to Pirates

By WTOP Staff

ROBERT QUESENBERRY
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs started the day with three runs. They finished with the same amount.

The Cubs lost 5-3 to Pittsburgh in 11 innings on Saturday in the resumption of the suspended series opener, and then managed just six hits in a 5-0 loss to the Pirates in their regularly scheduled matchup.

Playing without injured All-Stars Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro, the last-place Cubs had no answer for the Pirates’ pitching staff.

“Those guys are really important pieces of the team,” manager Rick Renteria said. “Today, quite frankly we just didn’t do very much offensively.”

Rizzo missed his 11th straight game with a lower back strain, and Castro has been sidelined for three games with a left ankle sprain. Both sluggers could be gone for the year, but the Cubs are 22-17 since July 28.

“(The Cubs) have been swinging the bats,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “We’ve watched the videotape. We made pitches. We stayed away from the big inning.”

In the second game, Felix Doubront (1-1) lost his Wrigley Field debut in his second appearance since he was acquired in a July 30 trade with Boston. He allowed two runs and five hits in five innings.

Pittsburgh left-hander Francisco Liriano (4-10) struck out nine in six innings. He allowed three hits and walked two in his first win since July 29.

“They’re young, but they’re pretty good hitters, most of them,” Liriano said. “I know they wanted to swing the bat. I wanted to be patient and not throw the ball too far over the plate.”

Three of those strikeouts came at the expense of touted Cubs rookie Javier Baez, who struck out seven times in nine at-bats over the first two games of the series. He has struck out 58 times in 132 at-bats in the majors.

“I don’t see him pressing,” Renteria said. “I just think he’s away from an approach that gives him a chance to have some success.”

Andrew McCutchen had three hits in the second game for the Pirates, who improved to 11-4 against the Cubs this year. Jordy Mercer hit an RBI single in the first and a leadoff homer in the ninth.

Friday’s series opener was suspended by rain with one out in the top of the seventh inning.

Neil Walker began the 11th with a one-out double off Wesley Wright (0-3), the last of nine Cubs pitchers. Wright then walked rookie Gregory Polanco and pinch-hitter Brent Morel to load the bases before Josh Harrison singled to center. Tony Sanchez added a pinch-hit sacrifice fly.

Mark Melancon (3-4) pitched two scoreless innings for the win and rookie John Holdzkom finished for his first major league save. Harrison finished with four hits and two RBIs, but did not play in the second game due to a left ankle injury.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: RHP Charlie Morton is scheduled to pitch a simulated game on Tuesday. He was placed on the disabled list last month with a sports hernia in his right hip. … C Russell Martin finished the suspended game after he turned his left ankle on a swing the previous day. Chris Stewart started the nightcap.

Cubs: Rizzo will accompany the team on the road next week, but there is no timetable for his return. . C Welington Castillo started the second game after he was scratched on Friday due to tightness in his lower back.

UP NEXT

Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (7-5, 3.86 ERA) will oppose Cubs LHP Travis Wood (8-11, 4.81 ERA) in the series finale Sunday.

RAIN MEN

This season the Cubs played 17 games with rain delays that totaled 24 hours, 38 minutes.

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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