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Red Sox ending lost season after World Series win

By WTOP Staff

JOHN PERROTTO
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Everything seems to be going wrong for the Boston Red Sox one year after so many things went right.

Their third World Series title in 10 years is a distant memory. This season they are all but assured of finishing last in the AL East.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were the latest team to take advantage, getting a lucky break when Boston pinch-runner Jemile Weeks was hit by a batted ball in the ninth inning. That led to the Red Sox’s 3-2 loss on Thursday night that helped the Pirates keep pace in the NL playoff race.

The Pirates won their fourth in a row to maintain their lead over Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot. They will host the Brewers in a three-game series beginning Friday night.

Down 3-2, the Red Sox put runners at the corners with no outs in the ninth inning against Mark Melancon. Will Middlebrooks then hit a chopper down the line, and the ball struck the back of Weeks’ left leg as he made a dive back to third.

Weeks was called out, and Melancon retired the last two batters for his 30th save in 34 opportunities.

Red Sox manager John Farrell argued with the umpires about the call, which is not reviewable by video replay.

“As he’s diving back, he gets hit with the ball which is runner interference and he’s automatically out,” Farrell said. “The question becomes whether it was fair or foul. They ruled that it was fair.”

The play left Pirates manager Clint Hurdle shaking his head.

“Sometimes, you’re just meant to win,” he said.

Gerrit Cole (10-5) allowed two runs in seven-plus innings, striking out seven and walking none. He won his season-best third straight start.

The second-year righty improved to 7-1 in nine career September starts.

Starling Marte hit his 13th homer, connecting off Brandon Workman (1-10) in the fifth for a 3-1 lead. Workman lost his 10th straight decision.

“With the exception of the solo home run by Marte, he pitched a solid five innings for us,” Farrell said.

Boston had closed to 3-2 in the eighth on Xander Bogaerts’ sacrifice fly, but lost for the eighth time in 11 games, averaging just 2.7 runs a game in that span.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: INF-OF Brock Holt, who hasn’t played since Sept. 5 because of a concussion, was cleared to resume baseball activities Thursday after being examined by Pittsburgh-based head trauma specialist Micky Collins. Boston is hopeful Holt can play in a few games before the season ends on Sept. 28. If not, he will go to the Florida Instructional League camp in Fort Myers, Florida, to get some game action.

Pirates: SS Jordy Mercer was back in the lineup after missing two games because of a lower back strain and went 1 for 3 with a double.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Allen Webster (4-3, 6.02) will start Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore, facing RHP Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.57).

Pirates: LHP Jeff Locke (7-5, 3.66) will face the Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo (8-10, 3.59) in the series opener.

BIG PAPI RETURNS

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz returned to the team and started at first base after missing the first two games of the series because of a family emergency. Ortiz was forced to play in the field because the DH rule isn’t in effect in interleague games at NL parks. He went 0 for 4 and struck out twice.

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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