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D-backs tag Padres ace Tyson Ross early in win

By WTOP Staff

JOSE M. ROMERO
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Tyson Ross probably deserves better than a 13-14 record this season, one that saw him make the National League All-Star team.

But Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ross was far from his All-Star form. He lasted just three innings and gave up four earned runs on five hits to go with two walks and a wild pitch in the Padres’ 10-4 loss.

“I didn’t really command anything, especially my breaking ball early. That’s my pitch that gets me back in counts, gives me swings and misses and poor contact,” Ross said. “They just executed their game plan better than mine.”

At least Ross had a sunny outlook on his shortest outing of the season.

“I think it is just a small bump on the road. It could have been the 31st game, it could have been the third start. It is bound to happen,” he said.

The Diamondbacks took control early, scoring six runs off Ross in the first two innings.

Ross couldn’t find a rhythm from the start, and didn’t get help from his defense. Mark Trumbo’s single in the first scored two runs when shortstop Alexi Amarista kicked the ball into shallow right field.

Then catcher Rene Rivera’s pickoff throw to first base hit Aaron Hill in the helmet. Hill and Trumbo each moved up a base, then Ross threw a wild pitch to allow Trumbo to score and make the score 3-0.

The second inning brought more pitching and fielding woes for the Padres. Chris Owings singled in a run and A.J. Pollock hit a routine grounder to Amarista, whose throw to first base pulled Yasmani Grandal off the bag for an error. That brought in another run.

Trumbo then hit a grounder back to Ross, who decided to come home to get the out. But Owings beat the throw and Arizona took a 6-0 lead.

“We came out pretty aggressive, we put a lot of guys in motion,” Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. “It worked out for us very well.”

Trumbo had three hits and three runs batted in on the night.

Chase Anderson (9-6) got the win for the Diamondbacks, going five innings in what could have been his last start of the season as the team looks to preserve his right arm.

Grandal’s 13th home run of the season made it 6-1 in the fourth. Amarista drove in two of the Padres’ runs, one after Rivera’s triple in the sixth. Yangervis Solarte hit a solo homer in the seventh.

“We were behind the eight ball early with a big number against a pitcher who has turned out to be a bright, young pitcher for the Diamondbacks,” Padres manager Bud Black said.

As for Ross?

“He is going to be dominant but he is human,” Black said. “These things are going to happen.”

PACHECO IN A PINCH

The Diamondbacks’ Jordan Pacheco put the game out of reach in the seventh inning with a two-out, two-run pinch-hit single. Pacheco is 4-for-6 in his last six at-bats with runners in scoring position.

“He has the tools to be a productive guy off the bench,” Gibson said. “Big hit for us. The Padres started to come back and those runs were big.”

GAFFES HURT PADRES

The Padres had two errors, one each from Rivera and Amarista. Both hurt the team in the loss.

“It wasn’t a clean game at all,” Black said. “It was one of those games where we just did not execute in a number of areas.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Reliever Joaquin Benoit (sore shoulder) is scheduled for a bullpen session Sunday, with the hope that he’ll be able to pitch in a game soon. … RHP Blaine Boyer is also dealing with a shoulder problem but isn’t ready to throw off a bullpen mound yet.

Diamondbacks: After an MRI revealed no structural damage to his back, OF David Peralta is expected to resume baseball activities Monday. But the team is in no hurry to get him back to playing, manager Kirk Gibson said.

ON DECK

Padres: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (3-6) takes a 3.55 earned run average into Sunday’s start against Arizona. He was knocked around for six earned runs in 4 1-3 innings in his last start Monday, a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Diamondbacks: RHP Trevor Cahill (3-11) has allowed three earned runs or less in nine of his last 10 starts. In eight starts against San Diego, he’s 2-4 with a 3.06 ERA.

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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