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Brignac’s HR in 9th lifts Phils over Padres

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Reid Brignac has a knack for getting big hits.

Brignac hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.

His second walk-off hit in two weeks gave the Phillies consecutive wins for the first time since a three-game streak May 17-20.

“It’s what you play the game for, it’s what you dream of as a kid,” Brignac said.

Brignac had a game-winning RBI single in the 14th inning of a 6-5 win over the New York Mets on May 30.

His only other walk-off hit before this year was a solo homer for Tampa Bay off Yankees reliever Sergio Mitre in the 11th inning on Sept. 13, 2010. That gave the Rays a 1-0 win and put them a half-game ahead of New York in the AL East.

“Different circumstances,” Brignac said. “Both feel great.”

Starters Cole Hamels and Tyson Ross matched zeroes, but didn’t get decisions. Hamels struck out a season-high 11 and allowed five hits in eight shutout innings for the Phillies. Ross struck out seven in seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits.

Jonathan Papelbon (2-1) tossed a scoreless ninth for the win.

“Cole was outstanding,” manager Ryne Sandberg said. “Real sharp with his command, his fastballs and change-ups. He’s looking real good.”

Nick Vincent (0-2) walked Domonic Brown with one out and hit Carlos Ruiz on 1-2 pitch. Brignac then sent a 2-0 pitch into the right-field seats for his first homer with the Phillies. Brignac was just 8 for 40 with 19 strikeouts before going deep.

Brignac pointed into the dugout as he jogged to first, slapped his hands together after rounding the bag and was mobbed at the plate by jubilant teammates. He got doused with shaving cream afterward by A.J. Burnett.

“It feels great to come through for my teammates,” Brignac said. “Cole pitched great.”

Jimmy Rollins stole two bases on the same pitch in the Phillies first after moving within three hits of breaking Mike Schmidt’s franchise record of 2,234.

Rollins lined a one-out single to right, but jogged slowly to first and was grimacing in pain. He appeared hobbled perhaps because he hit a foul off his leg.

But Rollins then stole second base, diving headfirst ahead of the throw. He got up, saw no one covering third base because of an overshift on Ryan Howard and swiped that bag. Howard walked, but Marlon Byrd struck out to end the inning.

Johnny Damon once did the same thing against the Phillies, stealing second and third in the ninth inning in Game 4 of the 2009 World Series, a 7-4 win for the Yankees.

Hamels pitched out of a couple jams in the early innings. Cameron Maybin led off the third with a double and advanced on Jace Peterson’s sacrifice, a drag bunt attempt. But Hamels fanned Ross and retired Chris Denorfia on a grounder.

San Diego loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but Hamels struck out Maybin swinging to end the inning.

“I feel like I’ve really been able to execute start to finish,” Hamels said. “I’m not giving in when I get behind in counts, not overdoing it. I’m able to make good pitches and getting good results.”

The Padres, who entered with the worst batting average in the majors at .217, had just five hits and none after the fourth inning.

Carlos Quentin (1 for 29), Everth Cabrera (0 for 23) and Peterson (0 for 20) continued their slumps, going a combined 0 for 10 with six strikeouts.

“That was a great pitcher’s duel,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “Both guys were outstanding.”

NOTES: Phillies ace Cliff Lee has started throwing again, but it’s uncertain when he’ll return. Lee has missed four starts since landing on the disabled list with an elbow strain. … Hamels had double-digit strikeouts for the 26th time, passing Jim Bunning for third place on the Phillies’ list. … Byrd was 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. … Ross lowered his ERA to 2.97. … The Phillies are 22-13 vs. the Padres at Citizens Bank Park. … LHP Eric Stults (2-7, 5.68) goes for the Padres against RHP Kyle Kendrick (1-6, 4.30) in the series finale Thursday afternoon.

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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