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Abreu hits 29th HR, White Sox beat Indians

By WTOP Staff

CLEVELAND (AP) — White Sox slugger Jose Abreu has already done a lot of damage in the first half of his rookie season.

He kept on going Saturday in Chicago’s 6-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. Abreu hit his major league-leading 29th homer, a two-run shot that helped the White Sox end a three-game losing streak.

“He’s good,” his manager Robin Ventura said. “I’m glad he’s on our side.”

Abreu, picked for the AL All-Star team, broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a drive off Zach McAllister (3-5). The homer cleared the fence in right field and landed in the White Sox bullpen for Chicago’s first hit.

After White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, another member of the All-Star team, left the game with a stiff back following a leadoff walk in the fourth. Abreu homered on the next pitch.

Ramirez said he doesn’t think his back will prevent him from playing in Tuesday’s game in Minnesota.

Abreu is batting .287 with 73 RBIs, good for second in the league.

“I am very proud of what I have accomplished so far in the first half,” he said through a translator. “I’m very happy to participate in the All-Star game. It’s definitely an honor.”

Abreu is 7 for 35 with five homers and 15 strikeouts against the Indians.

“Abreu is obviously a very dangerous hitter,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “That’s probably the understatement of the year.”

All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley hit a leadoff homer in the eighth for Cleveland.

Scott Carroll (4-5) held the Indians to two hits in five shutout innings before being pulled because of a stiff lower back.

“I felt it a couple of innings before that,” he said. “It really kind of hit me in the fifth. I tried to stay out there as long as I could.”

The rookie right-hander has won two straight starts, in which he hasn’t allowed a run over 11 2-3 innings. Carroll allowed one hit over 6 2-3 innings in Monday’s 4-0 victory at Boston. He was 0-5 with an 8.10 ERA in his previous six starts.

Gordon Beckham broke a 1-for-32 skid with a two-run double during a three-run ninth. Indians reliever Austin Adams made his major league debut and gave up all three runs. He got only one out.

Adam Dunn had an RBI single in the Chicago sixth.

White Sox relievers Zach Putnam, Javy Guerra, Eric Surkamp and Jake Petricka combined to allow two runs over the final four innings.

Carroll hasn’t given up an earned run in 14 innings over three appearances against Cleveland. His first career loss was to the Indians on May 3 when he allowed two unearned runs in six innings of a 2-0 defeat.

Carroll retired the first eight hitters before Mike Aviles’ two-out single in the third.

McAllister, recalled from Triple-A Columbus to make the start, gave up three runs in seven innings. His only major mistake came to Abreu.

“I wasn’t thinking about a home run,” Abreu said. “I was trying to hit the ball the other way. I hit a line drive, and I was lucky it went out of the park.”

Jason Kipnis drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh for the Indians. Earlier in the inning, Yan Gomes hit a line drive that was originally called a catch, but was overturned after Indians manager Terry Francona challenged the ruling.

The Indians moved designated hitter Jason Giambi (sore left knee) to the 60-day disabled list following the game. Giambi, batting .128 with two homers and five RBIs in 15 games, had been on the 15-day DL since June 12.

Before the game, Francona said Giambi will “definitely” play again this season. The move was made after Cleveland acquired LHP Nick Maronde in a minor league trade with the Angels and added him to the 40-man roster.

NOTES: The White Sox optioned RHP Andre Rienzo to Triple-A Charlotte and will add a position player before Sunday’s game. Rienzo was 4-5 with a 5.87 ERA in 14 games. … McAllister began the season in Cleveland’s rotation and was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore back on May 22. … Indians OF Chris Dickerson was scratched from the lineup with a tight left hamstring. Aviles started in left field. … White Sox OF Adam Eaton (jammed left wrist) wasn’t in the lineup and is likely to sit out Sunday. … White Sox LHP Jose Quintana will start the first game after the All-Star break on Friday. … The Indians optioned RHP Vinnie Pestano to Columbus. … Browns QB Brian Hoyer, a Cleveland native, threw out the first pitch. … LHP John Danks will start for the White Sox on Sunday against RHP Trevor Bauer (3-4).

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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