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Tigers drop series finale, 5-2 to Royals

By WTOP Staff

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Detroit Tigers like where they are in the standings heading into the All-Star break.

Despite a 5-2 loss to second-place Kansas City on Sunday, the Detroit Tigers are heading into the break with a 6.5-game lead over K.C. in the AL Central.

And they’ve won 15 of their past 21 games, including three out of four in this AL Central series.

“The big picture is that we just took three out of four in Kansas City and we’re going into the break in first place,” manager Brad Ausmus said.

“We’ve played much better the last three weeks. We never enjoy losing, but we’ll take the time off and come back after the break.”

A five-run seventh inning keyed by Omar Infante’s two-run single and an RBI double from Eric Hosmer prevented the Tigers from pulling off the four-game sweep.

Four of the runs were charged to Justin Verlander, who took a two-hit shutout into the seventh but loaded the bases on three straight singles.

“He was throwing well,” Ausmus said. “He had a good downward angle on his fastball and in the seventh inning it hit the brakes. I wanted him to have a good outing before the break, but it just didn’t work out.”

Verlander (8-8) lost for just the fifth time in 15 career decisions in Kauffman Stadium.

“Things were going well for us and we ran into the seventh,” Verlander said. “A couple of balls fell in the right spots and I’m out of the ballgame. They were able to find some spots.”

The Royals head into the break thinking about the league-best 33-20 mark they logged last season after stumbling into the All-Star break on a five-game losing streak.

“We’re eight games better than we were at this time last year,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “And we’re a second-half team. We’ve always been a second-half team.”

Exactly why they seem to play better after the break, no one seems to know.

“I’m not sure,” designated hitter Billy Butler said. “The season’s long, It wears on guys as they get older. We’re young. And sometimes I think as guys get older … I don’t know.”

But he does know last year’s second-half surge makes this year’s challenge seem less daunting.

“We’re just better the second half. It’s our track record and we’re starting to count on it.”

Verlander gave up six hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out three and walked one.

Yordano Ventura (7-7) pitched 1 2/3 innings in his first career relief appearance and got the win.

He allowed one hit and struck out three for the Royals, who beat the Tigers for only the first time in seven tries this year at home.

Greg Holland pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 26 opportunities.

After Raul Ibanez loaded the bases in the seventh with a single that snapped a 0-for-25 skid, Alcides Escobar brought in a run with a slow-rolling infield single that second baseman Ian Kinsler failed to pick up cleanly. A second run then scored on Jarrod Dyson’s fielder’s choice.

Ian Krol replaced Verlander and after intentionally walking pinch hitter Salvador Perez, gave up a two-run single to Omar Infante that made it 4-2.

“I waited for that pitch and made good contact,” Infante said.

Hosmer’s double stretched his career-best hitting streak to 13 games.

Rajai Davis and Austin Jackson opened the third with back-to-back singles and the Tigers took a 2-0 lead on Miguel Cabrera’s sacrifice fly and a two-out bloop single by J.D. Martinez, which fell in between shortstop Escobar and left fielder Ibanez as Jackson came around from first.

NOTES: Jackson proved a perfect leadoff hitter in this series, starting all four games with a base hit, three singles and a double. … Martinez made two nifty running catches in the right-field corner. Martinez was also 3 for 4. … These were the only home games for the Royals during a 19-game stretch that began on June 30 and runs through July 23. … The Royals, Dodgers, Yankees and Mariners are the only major league teams with losing records at home and winning marks on the road. … All nine of Detroit’s hits were singles.

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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