Skip to main content

Liriano rusty in Pirates’ 6-3 loss to Reds

By WTOP Staff

MARK SCHMETZER
Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) — Francisco Liriano was in trouble often, but it was just one bad pitch that really cost the Pittsburgh left-hander.

Liriano gave up Kris Negron’s first career home run, and All-Star Todd Frazier later added a two-run shot as the Cincinnati Reds rolled into the All-Star break with a 6-3 win over the Pirates on Sunday.

“I’ll learn from my mistakes and try to get better,” Liriano said.

Liriano made his first start since June 10 against the Chicago Cubs, when he strained his left oblique strain. He tied his season high by issuing six walks for the second time in three starts, and left the bases loaded in two of his four innings.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle wasn’t sure if Liriano would be rusty after being reinstated from the disabled list before the game.

“You’ve got to get him into a big league game to find out,” Hurdle said. “He threw one bad strike — one badly located strike. He’s got to be able to maintain his delivery. He has the ability to maintain his composure and his delivery.”

Hoping to get Liriano back on track as quickly as possible, Hurdle announced before the game that he would start the first game after the break on Friday against Colorado.

“I can’t wait for Friday,” Liriano said.

Liriano (1-7) allowed three hits and three runs with four strikeouts and a wild pitch.

Frazier lined a drive just inside the right-field foul pole on the first pitch from Vance Worley in the sixth to help the Pirates finish 2-5 on their road trip.

“We took another look at Frazier’s home run,” Hurdle said. “That was a good piece of hitting.”

The Reds went 8-3 on their 11-game homestand against Milwaukee, the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh to finish the first half 10-0-1 in series against those Central Division opponents. They are 0-3 in series against St. Louis.

Johnny Cueto, another Reds All-Star, overcame Neil Walker’s home run and a 56-minute rain delay in the fifth to last six innings. Cueto (10-6) allowed five hits and three runs with two walks and seven strikeouts. He also hit a batter.

Jubo Diaz pitched the seventh, and Jonathan Broxton worked the eighth before Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth for his 21st save.

Chapman’s fanning of leadoff batter Pedro Alvarez extended his record strikeout streak to 41 straight appearances.

Two of Pittsburgh’s All-Stars got the Pirates on the board. Andrew McCutchen tripled and scored the Pirates’ first run on Walker’s groundout in the fourth.

All-Star backup Josh Harrison made it a one-run game with an RBI single in the fifth.

Devin Mesoraco drove in Jay Bruce from first base with a double off the left-center field wall in the fifth.

Walker snapped a 0-for-12 slump with his 13th homer leading off the sixth. Russell Martin followed by reaching second base on an error by shortstop Zack Cozart, but the Pittsburgh catcher was thrown out trying to steal third.

“That’s on me,” Hurdle said. “I should’ve given him the no-run sign.”

Another Cozart error in the inning helped Pittsburgh get runners to first and second with two outs, but pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez flied out to end the threat.

“They got two big swings,” Hurdle said. “We got something going after the rain delay. We were one pitch away from popping it. We weren’t able to get that big swing.”

NOTES: The Pirates optioned INF Matt Hague to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for Liriano. … According to Elias Sports Bureau, as reported by the Pirates, McCutchen on Saturday became the first player in franchise history to hit tying and go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning or later of the same game.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote