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Scutaro makes season debut for Giants

By WTOP Staff

RICK EYMER
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Marco Scutaro stepped into the batter’s box for the first time this year and was supported by a standing ovation.

It was a special moment, for sure, for the veteran second baseman. Scutaro played in his first game with San Francisco after missing the first half of the year because of a back problem.

“I’d say these are the best fans in the big leagues,” Scutaro said Saturday after the Giants lost 2-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. “They give you so much support through the good times and the bad times. It’s nice to play in this kind of atmosphere.”

Scutaro, a postseason star for the Giants in their run to the 2012 championship, drew a walk in his first at bat and went 0 for 3 overall.

“It’s nice to be on the field again,” Scutaro said. “Unfortunately we didn’t win the game.”

The Giants are hoping his return is the start of getting a full lineup back. Angel Pagan is on the mend from back inflammation and could return soon after the All-Star break.

“I thought he looked fine,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “It looked like he saw the ball well.”

His appearance still couldn’t stop the Giants from being shut out for the fifth time in 13 games.

“It’s almost impossible to play the way we’ve been playing for six months,” Scutaro said. “It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. Our time is going to come sooner or later. We need to stay strong and keep fighting.”

Wade Miley (5-6) allowed four hits and won his second straight start for the first time since early April. He has given up three runs over his past 22 2-3 innings.

Brad Ziegler worked the eighth, and Addison Reed pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 26 chances.

Ryan Vogelsong (5-7) gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings.

“I’m sure he’s frustrated,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He had a quality start, good stuff. I wish we could have gotten him some runs. He really threw the ball well.”

Vogelsong has lost his last four starts despite a 2.19 ERA. The Giants have been shut out in each of his last three starts and given him no support in his last 24 2-3 innings.

“It’s kind of crazy that it keeps happening to me,” said Vogelsong, who pitched despite a bad cold. “You just keep fighting and come out the other side.”

Miley permitted one hitter — Brandon Belt, who singled and walked twice — to reach third base, and that came with two outs in the seventh.

“I couldn’t throw him a strike,” Miley said. “I wish I didn’t walk him.”

Miley gave up one leadoff hit, and then promptly picked off Gregor Blanco in the fifth.

“That pickoff hurt,” Bochy said. “We were trying to bunt him over to second, maybe put a little more pressure on the pitcher with some good hitters coming up. He has a good move and got him.”

NOTES: LHP Madison Bumgarner (9-7, 3.36) pitches for the Giants on Sunday. He is on a three-game losing streak after giving up a season-high six runs in his last start. … Giants SS Brandon Crawford was given the day off. . Vogelsong became the first Giants pitcher with no run support over four consecutive starts in the same season since Lynn McGlothen in 1977. … Giants OF Michael Morse matched his season-best, nine-game hitting streak with a single in the fourth.

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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