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Padres rally to beat Mariners 2-1

By WTOP Staff

BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres remembered Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn before Wednesday night’s game and then went out and honored him the best way they could.

Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in their first home game since Gwynn died of cancer Monday.

“It was a little different today,” said manager Bud Black, who played with Gwynn for one season at San Diego State. “Even when the game was over. I think everybody handles what has happened with Tony a little bit differently.”

Before the game, Mark Martinez, Gwynn’s top assistant at San Diego State, threw the ceremonial first pitch to Black.

The Padres players and coaches then gathered around a large No. 19 painted on the grass in right field, which was Gwynn’s number and position, and observed a 19-second moment of silence.

“It all sort of hit home and I’m sure that the stadium, not just the 25 players, but all of us here in the stadium, have come across Tony,” Black said.

Starters Felix Hernandez and Andrew Cashner pitched well but didn’t get a decision. Hernandez struck out 10 and allowed only three singles in seven innings, with no walks. But he allowed the Padres to tie it at 1 on a wild pitch with two outs in the sixth.

Everth Cabrera started the winning rally by beating out an infield single on a chopper against Charlie Furbush (0-4). Cabrera was sacrificed over by Alexi Amarista and scored on Medica’s liner to center. James Jones’ throw home was late and off line.

It was Medica’s second game-winning hit of the season.

Medica had met Gwynn a few times, and had played against San Diego State while at Santa Clara.

The Padres lost their first two games after Gwynn died, at Seattle.

“You could see it on the road, even in Seattle, I mean, there were Tony Gwynn jerseys all over the place,” Medica said. “You could see how much he meant to baseball, let alone the San Diego Padres organization. You could see it again tonight, and all the great things he’s done for this team and for baseball. I’m sure he was smiling down after that win.”

It was the most runs the Padres have scored in four games. They had lost three straight, including two in Seattle.

Joaquin Benoit (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth. Huston Street worked the ninth for his 19th save in as many chances.

Hernandez allowed a leadoff single to Seth Smith in the first and then retired the next 15 batters until Amarista beat out an infield single. Cashner sacrificed Amarista, who took third on Smith’s groundout and scored on Hernandez’s wild pitch to tie the game at 1.

“It was a changeup and I threw it too hard,” Hernandez said. “That was a tough loss for us. I missed a lot of pitches.”

Said manager Lloyd McClendon: “It was a tough game for the Seattle Mariners, not just Felix. Those things happen. They had their best guy on the mound and we had our best guy on the mound. It was one of those games where we knew it was going to be close.”

Cashner allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings, struck out two and walked two.

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the second when Mike Zunino was hit by a pitch, took third on Dustin Ackley’s single and scored on Brad Miller’s single.

NOTES: The Padres are wearing a patch with No. 19 inside a home plate logo on their jerseys, over the players’ hearts. They’re wearing a JC star patch to honor Hall of Fame broadcaster Jerry Coleman, who died Jan. 5 at 89. … The Padres have scheduled a public tribute to Gwynn for June 26 at Petco Park starting at 7:19 p.m., symbolic because Gwynn made his Padres debut on July 19, 1982. … Seattle DH Corey Hart (strained left hamstring) and OF Michael Saunders (right AC joint inflammation) are expected to come off the DL on Friday. … Padres 2B Jedd Gyorko, who has plantar fasciitis in his left foot, is out of a boot and cast but apparently is a ways away from returning. “It’s been better,” Gyorko said of the injury. … The Padres plan to place 1B Yonder Alonso (sore right wrist) on the DL and bring up Jake Goebbert. … The series concludes Thursday afternoon when Seattle RHP Erasmo Ramirez (1-4, 5.27) is scheduled to oppose RHP Jesse Hahn (1-1, 3.72).

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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