Skip to main content

Overbay delivers, Brewers beat Reds 3-2

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Lyle Overbay’s aggressive approach with the bases loaded in the ninth inning paid off for the Milwaukee Brewers.

The veteran left-handed hitter had struck out two innings earlier on a steady diet of pitches down and away in the zone. Overbay was determined not to let the Cincinnati Reds do that to him again, especially with the game on the line.

Overbay’s game-ending RBI single off the first pitch from Jumbo Diaz with one out lifted Milwaukee to a 3-2 win Friday night that helped the Brewers keep pace in the National League playoff race.

The Brewers won their third straight to stay 1 1/2 games back of Pittsburgh for the second NL wild card.

“I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss it,” Overbay said when asked if he was looking to hit the first pitch. “The at-bat before I was a little tentative and they were pounding me low and away.”

The pitch from Diaz (0-1) was down, but more in the middle of the zone. Overbay squared up and went the opposite way to the gap in left-center, allowing pinch-runner Logan Schafer to jog home with the winning run.

Overbay made the Reds pay for intentionally walking Ryan Braun and Gerardo Parra to get to him.

“We were just trying to get a ground ball, forceout at home plate and trying to get a double play,” Reds catcher Brayan Pena said. “It was meant to be down, outside, but he got a pretty good swing on it and they won the game.”

Teammates mobbed Overbay as he rounded first base. The crowd celebrated by putting two arms up to form a circle in the shape of an “O” for Overbay.

“That was one of the coolest things in a while, since I actually looked up and saw it,” Overbay said. “That was pretty cool.”

MILESTONE

Jonathan Lucroy had a leadoff double in the ninth for Milwaukee. It was his 44th double as a catcher this season, tying the National League record set last year by St. Louis’ Yadier Molina.

NERVOUS NINTH

Cincinnati had a chance to go in front in the top of the ninth against Francisco Rodriguez (5-5).

Brandon Phillips led off with a four-pitch walk and made it to third on a sacrifice and groundout. After Zack Cozart walked, pinch-hitter Jack Hannahan struck out looking on a 3-2 fastball.

Hannahan was so unhappy with the call that he had to be restrained by manager Bryan Price. Hannahan ended up getting ejected by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna.

It only got worse for Cincinnati, which had won three in a row.

SPOT START

Cincinnati wasted a surprising outing by spot starter Daniel Corcino, who allowed just two hits and two runs in six innings. He filled in for the injured Mat Latos.

Corcino even got his first big league hit on a single in the third. He was told Thursday he might be needed to start against Milwaukee.

“As soon as I get to the mound I forgot about everything. You know, you’ve got to do the job,” Corcino said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: Latos was a late scratch with a bone bruise in his right elbow. The right-hander missed the first 2 1/2 months of the season with right elbow and left knee injuries.

Price said Corcino would replace Latos again if he can’t make his next start.

Brewers: LF Khris Davis was out of the starting lineup for a second straight day with right forearm tightness. Davis, who has a team-high 22 homers, will likely start on Saturday, manager Ron Roenicke said.

UP NEXT:

Reds: LHP David Holmberg (0-1) threw 5 2-3 scoreless innings on Monday after replacing injured starter Dylan Axelrod. Now, Holmberg gets the start Saturday for his first career appearance against Milwaukee.

Brewers: RHP Yovani Gallardo (8-9) will try to snap out of a tough stretch after going 0-3 with a 5.95 ERA in his last four starts.

___

Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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