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More frustration for Red Sox in 2-1 loss to Cubs

By WTOP Staff

HOWARD ULMAN
AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) — The struggling Boston Red Sox don’t create many offensive opportunities, so they can’t afford to waste the ones they get.

They did that too often Tuesday night.

“You’ve just got to keep fighting,” Dustin Pedroia said after a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. “You’ve got to believe it’s going to turn around.”

In their last five games, the Red Sox have been shut out twice and held to two runs or fewer four times. One night after going hitless for the first 7 2-3 innings against Jake Arrieta in a 2-0 loss, they started a lineup with the last three batters hitting .207 or less. And the No. 6 hitter, Xander Bogaerts, ended the game hitless in his last 19 at-bats.

“It gets a little frustrating at times, particularly with the number of opportunities we continue to create,” Boston manager John Farrell said. “And that’s the thing that we have to continue to focus on internally, is that the opportunities are there and yet at times we’re not cashing in.”

The Red Sox left 10 runners on base, including three in the fifth inning when they scored their only run.

But they still went into the ninth tied 1-all before Anthony Rizzo scored the go-ahead run on Luis Valbuena’s sacrifice fly. Then he endured some uncertain moments in the bottom of the inning before he could celebrate.

Rizzo and his Cubs teammates lingered on the field until a replay review confirmed the on-field decision: He had caught Valbuena’s throw from third base to first on a grounder in time to get Pedroia for the final out.

“It was nerve-wracking,” Rizzo said, “especially with Big Papi coming up.”

Had the call been overturned, David Ortiz would have batted with runners at first and second and two outs.

“I didn’t even see the replay,” said Pedroia, who gestured in frustration after crossing the bag. “I feel like I was right there. It was bang-bang. I don’t know.”

Rizzo started the ninth with a single, went to third on a double by Starlin Castro and scored on Valbuena’s sac fly against Koji Uehara (3-2).

“Oh, gosh, what a great at-bat,” Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. “He fell behind (and) was just still able to put enough of the barrel on the baseball to get it deep enough to score the run.”

Pedro Strop (1-3) pitched a perfect eighth and Hector Rondon worked the ninth for his 11th save in 13 chances.

Boston wasted more dominant home pitching.

For the 14th straight game at Fenway Park, the Red Sox allowed no more than three runs, extending their franchise record. The last longer streak in the American League was 15 games by the Chicago White Sox, the last game in 1966 and the first 14 in 1967.

The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the fifth against Edwin Jackson. Jackie Bradley Jr. doubled and scored from third on a single by Pedroia.

The Cubs tied it in the sixth after going hitless against Clay Buchholz since Chris Coghlan led off the game with a single.

“Both Jax and Buchholz were grinding it out against each other,” Renteria said.

Justin Ruggiano started the sixth with a double, moved to third on a single by Darwin Barney and scored when Coghlan grounded into a force play at second base. Ryan Sweeney’s single put runners at first and third, but the threat ended when Rizzo lined out to first baseman Mike Napoli, who stepped on first to double up Sweeney.

Chicago threatened again in the seventh when a single by Castro, a passed ball and a hit batter put runners at first and third with one out. Andrew Miller replaced Buchholz and struck out pinch-hitter Junior Lake and Ruggiano to end the inning.

NOTES: Boston used an all-rookie outfield of LF Brock Holt, CF Bradley and RF Betts. Holt played only the infield in limited time in the majors the past two seasons. Betts was mostly a minor league second baseman but has played only the outfield in his three games since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. … Jackson pitched six innings, just the second time he’s lasted that long in his last eight starts. … The Red Sox sent LHP Rich Hill from Triple-A Pawtucket to the Los Angeles Angels for cash and released LHP Chris Capuano, who was designated for assignment last Wednesday. … Travis Wood (7-6) faces Boston’s Brandon Workman (1-1) on Wednesday night in the finale of the three-game interleague series.

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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