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White Sox pitchers bear brunt in sweep

By WTOP Staff

PAUL LADEWSKI
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Just when the Chicago White Sox thought they began to turn the corner, they got walked on in their own neighborhood.

The Los Angeles Angels swept a doubleheader from the White Sox on Tuesday with a 7-5 victory in the nightcap. Kole Calhoun and Howie Kendrick had a pair of hits and two RBIs apiece. White Sox pitchers aided their cause considerably with 13 bases on balls and one hit-batsman in the doubleheader.

In the opener, Angels starter Garrett Richards limited the home team to a pair of hits in an 8-4 win. Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton hit home runs, while White Sox rookie Jose Abreu also went deep to become the first player to reach 26 homers in 70 games in major league history.

“All you’re doing is giving them free base runners,” said frustrated Chicago manager Robin Ventura, whose team had come off three consecutive wins at first-place Toronto. “You want them to work for it. … You get guys who can swing the bats like those guys, and sometimes you get a little bit picky and try to be too fine and are just off the plate. Just off the plate is still a ball.”

Once more, ineffective starting pitchers unraveled the White Sox in both games. After Hector Noesi labored through five innings in the first game, putting an added burden in the bullpen, career minor leaguer Scott Carroll did no better in the nightcap. In six innings, he gave up six runs on 10 hits and three walks. He also hit a batter.

“Every time I go out there, I want to compete,” said Carroll, 29, the latest candidate to fill the final berth in the rotation. “Obviously, I didn’t compete tonight, but I definitely want to take control of that spot and show them that I have the talent to do so.”

The seventh inning was indicative of the White Sox’s day. After Carroll (2-5) walked two batters, reliever Jake Petricka issued an intentional walk to Hamilton that loaded the bases and an unintentional one to Kendrick that forced a run home.

White Sox starters ranked 13th in earned run average (4.58) and 10th in innings pitched (5.8 per game) at the start of the day.

“It’s something that we’ll continue to work on,” Carroll said. “We can’t do that at this level because the players are too talented and make you pay for it. It’s about being aggressive, filling the zone with as many strikes as possible and understanding who’s at bat because some guys are swingers more than others.”

Angels counterpart Jared Weaver (9-6) was hit hard but got the victory. He allowed five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings before five relievers finished the job.

“We kept putting the pressure on,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think after you win that first game of a doubleheader, it’s really hard to win two. When we came out and put those runs right up on them early, that was huge for us.”

In the second inning, Los Angeles manufactured three runs on four consecutive singles and a fielder’s choice. Kendrick, C.J. Cron and Grant Green each had an RBI in the rally.

Chicago got two runs back with Conor Gillaspie’s first home run of the season.

In the fifth, Calhoun stroked Carroll’s 1-0 pitch for a home run, scoring Green ahead of him for a 5-2 lead. One inning later, Kendrick scored on Hank Conger’s single.

The White Sox cut the deficit to 6-5 in the sixth on Gillaspie’s RBI single and Dayan Viciedo’s two-run homer.

Two of the brightest stars in the American League traded three-run home runs in the first game. The difference Mike Trout received plenty of help from his Los Angeles teammates, while Jose Abreu received virtually none. The White Sox mustered only two other hits against starter Garrett Richards (9-2) and a pair of relievers.

Chicago starter Hector Noesi (2-6) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, when Trout and Albert Pujols hit back-to-back homers to give the Angels a 4-3 lead they never relinquished. Two innings later, Josh Hamilton also went deep, his first home run since June 3.

NOTES: Ventura said LHP Chris Sale (7-1, 2.30 ERA) is a worthy All-Star candidate despite spending a month on the disabled list. “You’re looking at a guy at the top of his game,” Ventura said. “His numbers prove it.” … Abreu extended his hitting streak to 16 games in the nightcap, the longest by a White Sox rookie since Ross Gload finished the 2004 season on a 16-game run. … Acquired from Boston earlier in the day, LHP Rich Hill failed to retire any of the four batters he faced. The 34-year-old veteran had a 3-3 record and 3.23 ERA in 25 relief appearances for Triple-A Pawtucket.

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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