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Alvarez’s streak ends, Marlins lose to Mets 7-1

By WTOP Staff

MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — For almost two months, Henderson Alvarez was a sure thing for a Miami Marlins team that hasn’t had many of them.

That run ended with a thud Friday night.

David Wright went 4 for 4 with a mammoth homer, Lucas Duda also hit a long two-run shot off Alvarez, and the New York Mets rocked their recent nemesis in a 7-1 victory.

Zack Wheeler shut down Miami again and Juan Lagares had three hits as the fourth-place Mets improved to 6-2 on a 10-game homestand that takes them into the All-Star break.

Wheeler (5-8) pitched 6 2-3 stingy innings and helped himself with an RBI double. He moved to 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins, including a three-hitter in a 1-0 win June 19 that was his first major league complete game.

“When you get down early in games it puts a lot of pressure on the offense, and this guy has been real good against us,” Miami manager Mike Redmond said.

Alvarez (6-4) had been on quite a roll himself, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last nine games. He was 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA during that stretch, and the Marlins had won his last 10 outings — a club record for one of their starters.

He was particularly tough on the Mets, going 4-0 with a 1.01 ERA in his past five starts against them. But this time, Alvarez was tagged for eight hits and a season-high six earned runs in five ineffective innings.

“He made a lot of mistakes over the plate on the center-cut fastballs and they did some damage with them,” Redmond said. “He didn’t have the type of movement he’s had over his last few starts. That ended up being the difference.”

Christian Yelich hit an RBI single in the fifth, but that was it for Miami.

Donovan Solano tried to score from first on Casey McGehee’s fourth-inning double, but Kirk Nieuwenhuis made a tough play in the left-field corner and combined with Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada on a strong relay that cut down Solano at the plate.

“Right now, our bats have been quiet. We haven’t gotten a whole lot going over the last three or four days and we have to pick it up and try to win these next two games and go out on a positive note,” Redmond said.

Lagares got the Mets started with a two-out double in the second and Tejada hit an RBI single, ending Alvarez’s scoreless streak against New York at 20 innings. Wheeler then short-hopped the left-field fence between the 358 and 370 signs for his second extra-base hit and fourth RBI in 58 career at-bats.

Wheeler came in batting .037 this season (1 for 27), and Mets pitchers were at a paltry .077 with 13 hits in 168 at-bats.

“Us pitchers, we take hitting very seriously — especially with me. I like to think that I’m a good hitter even though I’m batting below .100. But it’ll come around,” Wheeler said.

Curtis Granderson flied out to the center-field fence to end the inning.

Duda had no such trouble with the dimensions in the third, sending a shot soaring into the second deck in right for his 14th home run. Giancarlo Stanton never moved his feet in right field, arching his back to stare straight up as the ball sailed way over his head.

Alvarez entered with a 2.27 ERA, fifth in the NL, but the 24-year-old right-hander was left off the All-Star team Sunday.

“My pitches weren’t really working today. I was leaving some pitches up in the zone,” he said through a translator. “I just wish it was like the last 10 starts.”

Wright did Duda one better in the fifth, driving an 0-2 pitch from Alvarez into the rarely reached second deck in left for his eighth home run.

Nieuwenhuis hit a leadoff triple in the sixth and scored when Lagares grounded a single through the drawn-in infield.

“Henderson has absolutely dominated us this year, so for us to go out there and make the adjustment, it gives you confidence moving forward that hey, we can go out there and beat some really good pitchers,” Wright said.

NOTES: Stanton, the Home Run Derby favorite at next week’s All-Star game, practiced for the event with Redmond a couple of hours before batting practice at Citi Field. Redmond will be the slugger’s batting practice pitcher Monday night in Minnesota, too. … Stanton snapped an 0-for-14 slide with an eighth-inning single. … Wright is 9 for 19 (.474) against Alvarez, including 7 for 13 this season. … Marlins RHP Tom Koehler (6-7), from nearby New Rochelle, faces RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-3) on Saturday.

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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