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Konerko returns as White Sox beat Rays 4-3

By WTOP Staff

MARK DIDTLER
Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Paul Konerko is set to finish his career on the field after an injury threatened to keep him a spectator.

Konerko was hitless in four at-bats in his first game since breaking his left hand Sept. 2 as the Chicago White Sox eliminated the Tampa Bay Rays from playoff contention with a 4-3 victory on Friday night.

“Very minimal discomfort,” Konerko said. “Maybe catching the ball, the only time I noticed it. Considering what it felt like a couple weeks ago, I’m lucky to have it where it’s at right now.”

The first baseman is retiring after this season, his 18th in the big leagues. He will honored at a pregame ceremony Sept. 27.

“A couple weeks ago I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to even take a swing,” Konerko said. “I feel lucky just to be back out there.”

White Sox manager Robin Ventura had Andy Wilkins replace Konerko defensively in the seventh.

“I took him out almost like a spring training game,” Ventura said. “He hadn’t been in there in a while. This is the first time he’s been on his feet running around doing stuff.”

Jose Quintana pitched into the eighth inning and Avisail Garcia had a two-run double for the White Sox. Rookie Jose Abreu also had a run-scoring single during a four-run fifth, giving him 104 RBIs for the season.

“I think he just really settled down and was aggressive,” Ventura said of Quintana. “Really it’s kind of a calling card of his, he gets stronger as the game goes along. He gave us our chance, and we got the big hit and were able to fight back and get the lead. It’s a nice night.”

The Rays had a chance to tie the score in the seventh when Ben Zobrist hit a two-out double off the glove of second baseman Marcus Semien, but Semien recovered the ball in time to throw out Kevin Kiermaier at the plate.

Logan Forsythe drove in Tampa Bay’s runs with a two-run double in the first and a leadoff home run in the fourth, his sixth of the season.

Quintana (9-10) gave up three runs –one earned — and nine hits in 7 1-3 innings. The left-hander is 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA over his last four starts.

Zach Putnam got the last two outs, striking out Kiermaier with two runners on in the ninth to earn his sixth save.

Jeremy Hellickson (1-4) allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings, failing to get through the fifth for the third time in his last five starts.

The Rays, who dropped to 35-44 at home, began the day 9 1/2 games behind the second AL wild-card spot.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: CF Desmond Jennings (sore left knee) is no longer listed as an extra player on the clubhouse lineup card and is expected to miss the rest of the season. … INF Sean Rodriguez left the team due to a death in the family.

ACTION ABREU

Abreu has 12 RBIs in five games against the Rays this season.

UP NEXT

White Sox RHP Hector Noesi (8-10) and Rays RHP Chris Archer (9-8) are Saturday night’s scheduled starters. Archer has allowed a homer in four consecutive starts. He had never given up a homer in more than two straight games prior to this stretch.

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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