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Wilson blows lead in 8th, Dodgers lose to Indians

By WTOP Staff

JOE RESNICK
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Called on to protect a one-run lead, Brian Wilson provided little relief.

Wilson surrendered three runs in the eighth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers lost 5-4 to the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.

Wilson (1-3) retired only one of the six batters he faced, giving up a tying RBI single by pinch-hitter David Murphy and a two-run single by No. 8 hitter Mike Aviles after an intentional walk to Lonnie Chisenhall.

“Brian’s been throwing well. I don’t know how many innings he’s thrown before today without giving up a run, but it seemed like a while,” outfielder Scott Van Slyke said. “When you make a mistake, it usually ends up biting you. Hopefully, that’s out of the way and he can start a new streak.”

Wilson had allowed one run in his previous 19 appearances, spanning 16 2-3 innings.

Van Slyke, who started in right field for the first time this season while Yasiel Puig rested, hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth off Scott Atchison, leaving the Dodgers a run short.

Cody Allen got four outs for his eighth save, retiring Matt Kemp on a flyball to the warning track with the potential tying and winning runs in scoring position. Had Kemp been able to come through, the win would have gone to former Indians closer Chris Perez, who pitched a perfect ninth.

The Dodgers signed Perez as a free agent to a one-year, $2.3 million contract on Christmas Eve after the two-time All-Star went 5-3 with a 4.33 ERA in 54 appearances last season with the Tribe.

“I had some good years there and I have some friends that are still on the team. Now I look at it as just a part of my career,” said Perez, who spent the previous 4 1/2 seasons in Cleveland and recorded a career-best 39 saves in 2012. “I’ve moved on to the second chapter, and I’m definitely glad to be in L.A.”

Perez missed most of June because of a shoulder strain, the same injury that cost him a month of spring training, but was healthy for the final three months as the Indians earned a spot in the wild card game with a 92-74 record before losing to Tampa Bay.

“Unfortunately, last year I wasn’t healthy the whole year. But instead of trying to make excuses, I still went out there to try to do my job,” Perez said.

Perez has appeared in 33 games for the Dodgers, going 0-3 with a 4.85 ERA in his new role as a bridge to Wilson and closer Kenley Jansen.

“I’d rather be on a winning team, honestly. Closing for a losing team is not fun,” Perez said. “Being part of a winning team, no matter what role it is, is good enough for me.”

Hyun-Jin Ryu allowed two runs and seven hits, struck out eight, and hit an RBI double that triggered a three-run fifth against Trevor Bauer. The Indians right-hander, born in North Hollywood and pitching in California for the first time in the majors, remained 0-5 in nine career road starts with a 6.64 ERA.

Ryu did not walk a batter, his 13th straight outing with fewer than three bases on balls. Dodgers starting pitchers have issued fewer than three walks in 36 consecutive games, tying the 2005 Minnesota Twins for the longest such streak in the modern era (since 1900).

Brian Shaw (3-1) pitched a scoreless seventh to get the victory. Ryan Raburn, playing his first game since his diving catch in right field against Seattle’s Kyle Seager left him with a headache and a stiff neck, hit a two-run homer in the fourth for Cleveland.

Dodgers rookie Miguel Rojas, who has made dazzling plays all over the infield since his promotion from Triple-A — one of which preserved Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter on June 18 — made his seventh start at third base and robbed Michael Brantley of an RBI in the fifth with a diving backhanded grab of his line drive toward the line.

Carlos Santana followed with a sharp single to right field, but Van Slyke made a one-hop throw to catcher A.J. Ellis for the tag on Asdrubal Cabrera. Andre Ethier gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead in the fifth with a two-run single.

NOTES: Kershaw, picked Wednesday as NL Pitcher of the Month for June after winning all six starts with an 0.82 ERA and 61 strikeouts, starts Friday night’s series opener at Colorado against the pitcher who opposed him in his no-hitter on June 18 — Jorge De La Rosa. … The last eight homers Ryu has given up all have come after his first time through the batting order.

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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