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Cobb strikes out 12, Rays win 5-1

By WTOP Staff

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Alex Cobb pitched, Ben Zobrist hit and the Tampa Bay Rays won again.

Tuesday night’s 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers was the Rays’ 11th in 12 games and it moved them within one game of .500 (53-54) for the first time since April 23.

“This is the team we are,” said Zobrist, who drove in the Rays’ first two runs with a home run and a double. “We knew that this is the team we could be in spring training. It just took a long time for it to show up.

“From here on out, I don’t think we’re ever going to return to the way we were playing before June 11.”

Since that date the Rays are 29-12, the best record in the majors over that span.

Cobb struck out 12 in eight innings and won his third straight start, attaining a winning record (7-6) for the first time this season.

“I wish it would have happened sooner, but when you go into a rut you learn a lot about yourself mechanically,” he said. “But it does feel like I’m starting to get in the groove again. Right now everybody’s clicking and it’ll make for a nice run.”

With the Brewers up 1-0 in the sixth, Zobrist hit his ninth homer, the only run off Milwaukee starter Matt Garza. Zobrist’s double in the eighth off reliever Will Smith (1-3) put the Rays ahead for the first time. Pinch-hitter Logan Forsythe followed with another RBI double and the Rays broke it open with a four-run inning.

Garza, who pitched for the Rays for three seasons, gave up five hits and two walks in seven innings, striking out two.

“I knew runs were going to be at a minimum,” he said. “We lost to a team that’s really, really hot right now. You make a mistake and they make you pay for it.”

Cobb, who is 5-0 in his last six starts, gave up only three hits and two walks before Grant Balfour finished it for Tampa Bay.

“We’re playing for the World Series,” declared Rays manager Joe Maddon. “That’s our objective from Day One, to get to the playoffs and World Series. That has not changed. I’m telling you our record is not reflecting it yet, but if we keep playing like this it soon shall.”

The Brewers, who have lost four of five, have scored two runs and had 12 hits in their last three games while striking out 30 times.

Scooter Gennett drove in Milwaukee’s run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth after a leadoff single by Aramis Ramirez.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: The team expects to make a decision soon about the roster status of reliever Jim Henderson, who pitched in a rehab game late Tuesday.

Rays: Outfielder Wil Myers (broken right wrist) plans to take batting practice Saturday. Catcher Ryan Hanigan (strained left oblique) is sore after two days of batting practice and is expected to remain out until next week.

ON DECK

Brewers: Right-hander Yovani Gallardo (5-5) makes his first start against Tampa Bay Wednesday.

Rays: Left-hander David Price (11-7) looks to win his seventh consecutive start Wednesday.

STRANGE TIME TO GET TOSSED

Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar was ejected by umpire Bob Davidson during the Rays’ eighth-inning rally for arguing a called strike with the bases loaded. It was the third time Escobar has been ejected this season and the second time in a week.

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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