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Dbacks can’t handle Leake, lose to Reds 3-0

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Baseball Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Trevor Cahill gave Arizona what it needed — a solid start that rested the bullpen. The Diamondbacks’ offense couldn’t hold up its end.

Mike Leake pitched into the eighth inning and singled home a run — a rare commodity for the Reds these days — leading Cincinnati to a 3-0 victory over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.

Leake (8-9) gave up five hits in 7 2-3 innings, repeatedly pitching out of threats by getting ground balls.

“That ball was moving more than normal,” Arizona catcher Miguel Montero said. “His sinker was working.”

The Reds won for only the second time in 11 games since the All-Star break. The offense has been the biggest problem, scoring only 20 runs — by far the fewest in the majors over that span. Leake pitched in that way, too.

His single off the glove of diving third baseman Martin Prado drove in a run in the second off Cahill (1-8), who has yet to win as a starter this season.

“Fantastic job,” third baseman Todd Frazier said. “We needed it.”

Frazier and Brayan Pena had RBI singles off Cahill, who fell to 0-6 in seven starts this season.

Cahill gave up seven hits in six innings. He retired 11 straight over one stretch and didn’t walk a batter for the second consecutive start.

“I can’t remember the last time that happened,” Cahill said.

It was an encouraging performance for Cahill.

“He threw the ball better,” manager Kirk Gibson said. “He’s going to get confidence out of it. We’ve got to score some runs for him.”

A Reds lineup already missing first baseman Joey Votto and second baseman Brandon Phillips — both on the disabled list — also was without right fielder Jay Bruce, who went on bereavement leave for his grandfather’s death.

Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his 23rd save in 25 chances. He extended his streak of at least one strikeout in 45 consecutive appearances, a major league record for a reliever.

ON DECK

Diamondbacks: Gibson needs one more win to tie Bob Melvin (337) for most by a Diamondbacks manager. … Left-hander Wade Miley (6-7) starts the final game of the series before Arizona returns home to face Pittsburgh. Miley is 3-1 with a 2.94 ERA in his last five starts.

Reds: Right-hander Alfredo Simon (12-5) tries for his first win since being chosen for his first All-Star team. In two starts since then, he’s 0-2 and has given up seven runs — five earned — in 9 1-3 innings. … The Reds start a series in Miami on Thursday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Second baseman Aaron Hill was back in the starting lineup after being limited to one pinch-hitting appearance in the last two games because of a bruised right hand. … Right-hander Bo Schultz was called up from Triple-A Reno to restock a bullpen depleted by two extra-inning games in the last three. Outfielder Alfredo Marte was optioned.

Reds: Right-hander Logan Ondrusek resumed throwing. He’s been on the 15-day disabled list since July 22 with a sore pitching shoulder. … Manager Bryan Price said left-hander Manny Parra hasn’t pitched since July 20 because he’s had a stiff back. … Reliever Curtis Partch was called up from Triple-A Louisville to take Bruce’s spot while he’s on bereavement leave.

HURTS TO WATCH

Montero would rather try to hit Chapman’s fastball than to catch it. He watched Reds All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco catch fastballs clocked at 104 and 103 mph during Arizona’s 2-1, 15-inning win on Monday and decided he wanted no part of that.

“You see the reaction from Mesoraco,” Montero said. “Every time he catches the ball it’s like, ‘Oh, pain!'”

STATS

Arizona has lost six of its last eight against Cincinnati. … Didi Gregorius has four triples, a career high. … Arizona’s bullpen hasn’t allowed a run in the last 18 2-3 innings. … The Reds’ three runs matched their highest total in 11 games since the All-Star break. … Billy Hamilton of the Reds opened the first with a double that snapped his career-worst slump at 0 for 15. Zack Cozart had an infield single — he was originally out at first but the call was overturned on appeal — that ended his 0-for-22 slump, which matched his career worst. … Leake has 63 career hits, the most by a pitcher in the majors since 2010.

___

Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

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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