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Padres get season-high 16 hits, beat Reds 8-2

By WTOP Staff

JAY PARIS
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — For a Padres team that’s struggled to score all season, this was certainly a different feeling.

Seth Smith hit a leadoff homer and scored three times, Carlos Quentin also went deep and drove in three runs, and San Diego beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 Tuesday night with a rare offensive outburst.

“There is a little bit of momentum that happens in the dugout, and quite honestly, we haven’t had that much,” manager Bud Black said.

Twice this season, the Padres have won with only one hit — and San Francisco right-hander Tim Lincecum pitched a no-hitter against them last Wednesday.

But one night after managing just one hit in a 1-0 victory over the Reds, the Padres banged out a season-high 16. Every batter in the starting lineup had a hit.

“The guys did a good job of getting their pitches and not missing,” said Smith, who had three hits.

Ian Kennedy (6-9) pitched six solid innings, giving up one run and seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts to get his first win in nearly a month. Kennedy, who improved to 4-1 in his career against the Reds, was 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA in his last four starts in June.

“I was getting ahead with my fastball and keeping it down and throwing my off-speed pitches for strikes,” Kennedy said.

Quentin’s two-run homer in a four-run seventh was the key blow as the Padres extended their lead to 7-1.

“That was a no-doubter,” Smith said of Quentin’s 416-foot drive. “It was long, loud and fun to watch.”

Mike Leake, vying for his career-best fourth straight win, allowed three runs and 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings. In each of his previous two starts, Leake (6-7) gave up one run and four hits in eight innings.

“They found a lot of holes,” Leake said. “They hit me and made me work at trying to keep the ball down.”

San Diego had its highest run total since an 11-1 win over the Cubs on May 23.

The Padres got the game’s final out when the original call was overturned on instant replay. Todd Frazier was originally ruled safe on a force play at second before Black challenged the call.

It marked the second time since expanded instant replay was instituted this season that a game ended with a call being reversed.

“The problem is replay is becoming a hot topic,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “We left the field angry several times and today’s another one. You’re castrated by the inability to talk to the umpires about the play.”

Chase Headley put the Padres ahead 3-1 with an RBI single in the sixth to drive in Smith, who doubled to right field.

Smith hit his ninth homer leading off the first to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. It matched their hit total from the previous night and was San Diego’s first homer since Tommy Medica had one on June 24.

“When a guy hits a leadoff bomb to start the game, that relieves a little pressure,” Black said.

Kennedy agreed.

“It’s awesome and you know you have at least a one-run cushion and it gives you a little more leeway,” he said.

Quentin also doubled in the first inning, but was doubled off second base when he sprinted for third on an infield popup after forgetting how many outs there were.

After totaling just five runs in their previous five games, the Padres extended the lead to 2-0 when Kennedy got San Diego’s third straight single.

The Reds pulled to 2-1 in the fifth when Frazier’s two-out, broken-bat single to center drove in Zack Cozart. That snapped the Padres’ scoreless streak at 21 innings.

NOTES: Padres SS Everth Cabrera was a late scratch with a strained left hamstring. He’ll be re-evaluated Friday, but could be headed to the disabled list. … RHP Andrew Cashner (sore right shoulder) will resume throwing Wednesday after getting the OK from the team’s medical staff. … San Diego 2B Jedd Gyorko (plantar fasciitis) had his cast removed. … Reds 1B Joey Votto was lifted for a pinch runner, an indication his left knee remains tender. “He is not running at full speed,” Price said. … Reds RHP Johnny Cueto (8-5, 1.88 ERA) faces RHP Tyson Ross (6-8, 3.18) in Wednesday afternoon’s series finale.

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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