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Hamels sharp again in 2-0 loss to Marlins, Alvarez

By WTOP Staff

CHRISTOPHER STOCK
Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — Cole Hamels was sharp once again, but came up on the losing end.

Hamels gave up two runs in seven solid innings as the Philadelphia Phillies lost 2-0 to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.

“He continues to go out and compete and do his job and a very, very solid outing,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. “Who knows, with a little run support early it might have even been better.”

It was the 22nd consecutive start that Hamels (9-8) has allowed three runs or fewer and the 14th start of the season that he’s pitched at least seven innings and allowed two runs or fewer.

“Anytime you’re able to go seven and give up as few runs as (two or fewer), then that’s looked at as doing your job,” Hamels said. “But ultimately I strive to finish what I start.”

Henderson Alvarez pitched into the eighth inning to outduel Hamels.

“This is the second time I’ve faced him and he’s gone on to pitch good games and it kind of helps me go along as well,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez (12-6) gave up five hits and struck out two over 7 2-3 innings to lower his ERA to 2.70. Jeff Baker and Casey McGehee had RBIs for the Marlins in the 2-hour, 20-minute contest.

“When gets into a rhythm, he gets quick outs and he was able to do that, which allowed him to stay in the game and he did exactly what we needed him to,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “We got him his two runs and we were able to hang on.”

Alvarez is 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA in six starts against the Phillies this season.

“I’d say for the most part he’s given us a tough time this year,” Sandberg said. “He’s good with his live fastball. He’s got some body action out there that has some deception to it, but I’d say overall he’s pitched good against us.”

Alvarez issued a two-out walk to Carlos Ruiz in the top of the eighth inning, ending his night after 97 pitches as he was replaced by left-hander Mike Dunn. After Chase Utley singled, Dunn struck out Ryan Howard with runners on first and second to end the inning.

Steve Cishek pitched the ninth for his 38th save to preserve the Marlins’ 16th shutout of the season.

Hamels got into trouble in the fourth inning when he allowed consecutive singles to Jeff Baker, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Lucas — who drove in Baker with his base hit to center.

“I thought they were good pitches too, that’s what stinks,” Hamels said. “They were at least the right pitches I wanted to throw at the right time, they missed by just a hair.”

The Marlins extended the lead to 2-0 in the fifth after Christian Yelich doubled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by McGehee.

Only two Phillies runners advanced to scoring position against Alvarez, who calmly retired the next batter each time to end the second and fifth innings.

Hamels will look to reach the 200-inning plateau for the fifth consecutive season when he makes his final start of the year on Sunday against Atlanta.

“That’s always the goal to get to 200 innings,” Hamels said. “

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: CF Marcell Ozuna suffered a high ankle sprain on his right ankle during Sunday’s game against Washington after running into second base. “We’ll see how he comes in today as far as if there’s even a possibility of him playing any more this season,” Redmond said before the game.

UP NEXT: Phillies RHP Kyle Kendrick (9-13, 4.73) will face Marlins LHP Brad Hand (3-8, 4.59) on Wednesday. Kendrick is 13-3 with a 3.57 ERA in his career against the Marlins.

WINS HARD TO COME BY FOR HAMELS

Hamels is on pace to establish a new career-best in ERA, but currently only has nine wins in 29 starts.

“Yeah (it’s hard to believe), because sometimes when you’re looking at guys that have (low) ERAs, most of them have 18-20 wins,” Hamels said. “It’s just going out there trying to plug away and work towards something the next year — I think that’s something that I can kind of control. When you start a season and make personal goals, what can you control and ERA and innings are what you can really control.”

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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