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Cubs can’t hold off Dodgers’ comeback in 8-4 loss

By WTOP Staff

PAUL LADEWSKI
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — The also-ran Chicago Cubs learned a valuable lesson from the playoff-hopeful Los Angeles Dodgers: Don’t take anything for granted in a pennant race.

The Cubs held a three-run lead on Thursday night before they came apart in an 8-4 loss that snapped their three-game winning streak.

Chicago allowed seven runs and committed three errors in the final three innings.

Limited to no runs and five singles in the first six innings, the Dodgers broke out for five runs in the seventh. They moved 2 1-2 games ahead of idle San Francisco in the NL West race.

“They kept grinding,” Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of the Dodgers. “Those are the things we talk about — playing nine innings of baseball. We’ve been talking about that since spring training. They saw an example of what can happen (otherwise).”

While Los Angeles made several mistakes in the field and on the basepaths, Chicago looked to be the more focused team. The momentum changed abruptly in the seventh, when the Dodgers sent eight batters to the plate against Neil Ramirez (2-3), the third of seven Cubs pitchers. All but one of the five runs was unearned.

Dee Gordon and pinch-hitter Andre Ethier hit RBI doubles during the rally, when six of the first eight hitters reached base on five hits and an error.

Cubs rookie second baseman Logan Watkins couldn’t handle Juan Uribe’s hard-hit grounder with one out. That allowed the first run to score on a fielder’s choice.

“It happened really quickly,” Renteria said. “They hit a couple balls hard, but there were a couple plays we could have made.”

Los Angeles rebounded to win for only the second time this season — against 54 losses — when trailing after six innings.

The Dodgers tacked on a run in the eighth on Drew Butera’s bases-loaded walk, and one in the ninth on Matt Kemp’s sacrifice fly.

Eight Dodgers had one RBI apiece.

Los Angeles overcame a shaky start by Zack Greinke, who allowed four runs and nine hits in five innings. Paco Rodriguez (1-0), the first of four Dodgers relievers, pitched a scoreless sixth to earn the win.

Cubs rookie Jorge Soler had two hits and two RBI. Luis Valbuena and Mike Olt also drove in runs.

Chicago starter Tsuyoshi Wada pitched five solid innings, allowing one run and five hits. He had five strikeouts. The left-hander faced just nine hitters in the first three innings.

The 33-year-old Wada was told that this start would be his final one of the season. He has been bothered by a left hamstring in recent weeks.

“Looking back, personally, I feel that I had a good year when you consider I didn’t have any major league numbers,” Wada said through an interpreter.

The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the first when their first four hitters reached base, with Valbuena and Soler lining RBI singles.

The Dodgers cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fifth when Scott Van Slyke scored on A.J. Ellis’ ground out.

The Cubs used four straight singles and a sacrifice fly by Olt to add two runs in the fifth. Among the hits was a grounder by Valbuena that skipped under Gordon’s glove at second base.

“It honestly didn’t look very good early,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “But at this point, it doesn’t matter that happens to you. If you walk away with a W, you feel good about it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM:

Dodgers: SS Hanley Ramirez returned to the starting lineup after missing two games due to a strained right elbow. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu was expected to rejoin the Dodgers on Thursday, but Mattingly wouldn’t predict when he will return to the rotation. Ryu, 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA this season, received a cortisone injection in his sore left shoulder on Monday.

Cubs: 1B Anthony Rizzo (strained lower back) was available as a pinch-hitter. Rizzo, second in the NL with 31 homers, missed 18 games before returning Monday and hitting a walk-off, ninth inning shot in Chicago’s 1-0 win over Cincinnati. Rizzo was rested on Tuesday, but started Wednesday. … INF/OF Arismendy Alcantara (sprained right wrist) took part in batting practice, but remains day to day.

UP NEXT:

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (19-3, 1.70) tries to become the first 20-game winner in the majors this season — and reach that mark for the second time in his career — when he faces Chicago RHP Edwin Jackson (6-14, 6.09) on Friday. Kershaw was 21-5 in 2011.

Jackson will make his first start since Aug. 20 (strained right lat), an 8-3 loss at San Francisco when he allowed seven runs in 2 2-3 innings.

DOWN THE STRETCH:

As the Dodgers shorten their rotation for the postseason, it will include Kershaw, Greinke and …

Mattingly didn’t rule out Ryu being back in the rotation next week, but wasn’t specific. “It’s going to be a few days, but we’re going to get him back, Mattingly said. “Monday would be a stretch.”

Ryu left his start last Friday in San Francisco after one inning, complaining of tightness and pain in his shoulder. He said the injury felt similar to one that landed him on the disabled list earlier this season. Tests revealed only inflammation.

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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