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Simmons powers streaking Braves past Mets 5-4

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves may have to find different ways to score after losing Evan Gattis to the disabled list.

With a healthy Gattis, the Braves often relied on homers. Without the power-hitting catcher, they showed the Mets they can create runs without the long ball.

Andrelton Simmons’ two-run single in Atlanta’s three-run fourth helped the streaking Braves beat Daisuke Matsuzaka and the New York Mets 5-4 on Tuesday night.

The Braves stole three bases, leading to two runs. They had only one extra-base hit, a run-scoring double by Freddie Freeman in the third inning.

“It’s nice to play small ball, stealing bases and running the bases good, going first to third,” Simmons said.

Gattis was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game with a bulging disk in his back. He was tied for the team lead with 16 homers.

Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy hit two-run homers for New York. The Mets (37-47) have lost three straight and six of seven to fall 10 games below .500 for the first time this season.

The Braves overcame a shaky start from Mike Minor to protect their one-half game lead over Washington in the NL East. Atlanta has won six straight, its longest streak of the season.

Shae Simmons (1-0) took over for Minor in the fifth and pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings. Craig Kimbrel earned his 26th save by striking out Eric Young Jr., Granderson and Bobby Abreu in the ninth. Four Braves relievers combined to allow only one hit in 4 2-3 scoreless innings.

“I think the MVP of the team today was the bullpen,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. “To go 4 2-3 scoreless innings in a one-run game, that’s a pretty awesome night for us down there.”

Matsuzaka (3-3) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings. He has lost three straight starts.

With the game tied 2-2 in the fourth, the Braves staged an improbable three-run inning. Chris Johnson reached on only his eighth walk of the season. With two outs, Johnson scored from second on Minor’s single to center — only his second RBI of the season. Following a single and stolen base by B.J. Upton, Andrelton Simmons’ two-run single to left off Matsuzaka increased Atlanta’s lead to 5-2.

“When they needed a big hit, they got it,” said Mets manager Terry Collins of the Braves.

“There’s a reason why they’re winning. There’s a reason why they’ve won. They do have a knack for it. Those are the kind of players they have over there. They’re tough in the clutch, boy, they’re very tough.”

Matsuzaka said it was disappointing to allow the three runs with two outs.

“The first two outs came pretty easily but I just wasn’t able to finish off that inning with the last out,” Matsuzaka said through a translator. “… I was really disappointed in myself for not being able to keep us in the game.”

Minor quickly gave back two runs in the fifth on Murphy’s two-run homer. Minor then gave up singles to Eric Campbell and Lucas Duda before being bailed out by rookie Shae Simmons, whose sidearm delivery produced a fly ball from Chris Young and a strikeout of Travis d’Arnaud.

Minor lasted 4 1-3 innings, matching his shortest start of the season, and allowed four runs on nine hits and one walk. His ERA is 4.73 and he has made eight starts since his last win on May 19.

Atlanta rookie catcher Christian Bethancourt, making his second straight start, singled in the second inning to drive in Johnson for his first career RBI.

Braves second baseman Tommy La Stella suffered a bruised right foot when he was hit by a pitch in the second inning. He left the game in the eighth. La Stella said he expects to play on Wednesday. Gonzalez said the rookie had a 50-50 chance to start.

NOTES: A few hundred fans arrived early to watch the United States lose to Belgium in the World Cup. The game was shown on the stadium video board. … Tejada has a 10-game hitting streak. … B.J. Upton has an eight-game hitting streak and 13 stolen bases. He stole 12 bases in 2013. … Gov. Nathan Deal threw out the first pitch. … The Braves recalled RHP Juan Jaime from Triple-A Gwinnett and then optioned him back to Gwinnett after the game. RHP David Carpenter (strained right biceps) will come off the 15-day DL on Wednesday. … The series ends Wednesday night with Atlanta’s Julio Teheran facing New York’s Jacob deGrom.

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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