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Boston slide continues with 4-2 loss to Toronto

By WTOP Staff

BOSTON (AP) — A year after bolstering their rotation at the trade deadline, it looks as if the Boston Red Sox are exploring the market again.

This time, they are likely sellers.

After a 4-2 loss to Toronto on Tuesday night, manager John Farrell announced a move indicating the Red Sox are seriously considering offers for ace Jon Lester before Thursday’s non-waiver trade deadline.

Lester will sit out his scheduled start against the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

“In light of all the uncertainty surrounding Jon Lester, it’s probably in everyone’s best interest that he does not make that start,” Farrell said.

Although no deal was imminent, a trade sending Lester (10-7, 2.52 ERA) to a contender seemed much more likely after Farrell’s announcement. And it did nothing to lift the spirits in Boston’s clubhouse after the Red Sox lost for the seventh time in eight games.

“Obviously we’re not in the position that we want to be in. We haven’t played very well and our record shows that. That’s why you hear all those rumors,” Dustin Pedroia said. “It’s something you don’t like going through. It makes you feel worse. We don’t want to be in this position.”

Pedroia’s RBI double in the third drove in Boston’s only run until Xander Bogaerts’ solo homer in the ninth inning cut Toronto’s lead to 4-2.

Marcus Stroman had his second solid start against Boston in five days and Colby Rasmus hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who won for the ninth time in 11 games and improved to 9-3 against the Red Sox this season.

Stroman (7-2) held Boston to one run and six hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking two. He took a no-hitter into the seventh last Thursday before giving up Shane Victorino’s leadoff single for his only hit allowed in seven innings.

Casey Janssen got the final three outs for his 17th save despite giving up Bogaerts’ homer.

Rubby De La Rosa (3-4) gave up three runs on nine hits in six innings.

The Blue Jays beat Boston in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

Gose’s two-out, two-run double snapped a 1-all tie and pushed the Blue Jays ahead in the sixth. Juan Francisco and Rasmus singled before advancing on Munenori Kawasaki’s sacrifice bunt.

Rasmus’ homer into the center field bleachers gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the second, but Boston tied it on Pedroia’s RBI double.

RUNS RARE FOR SOX

The Red Sox have scored six runs in their last four games and were 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.

“We had probably three opportunities when we had multiple men on base and the timely hit was elusive,” Farrell said. “It’s been opportunities created — and left at that.”

UNASSISTED

Mike Carp started at first base for Boston and ended the top of the seventh with a solo double play. Carp caught a line drive hit right to him by Dioner Navarro, then stepped on first base before Melky Cabrera had any chance of getting back. Cabrera led off the inning with a single. Cabrera was the first batter Edward Mujica faced after relieving starter Rubby De La Rosa.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: Infielder Brett Lawrie, on the disabled list since late June with a broken right index finger, began hitting off a tee late last week. On Monday, the team acquired Danny Valencia from Kansas City for a pair of players to give them depth at third while Lawrie works his way back. Manager John Gibbons said Valencia will face “a lot of lefties.”

Red Sox: First baseman Mike Napoli had what manager John Farrell called a “down day” due to swelling on the ring finger of his left hand.

ON DECK

Blue Jays: Mark Buehrle (10-7, 3.19 ERA) goes in the series finale, trying to snap his six-game losing streak since his last win on June 1. He’s 1-1 against the Red Sox this season, beating them in Fenway on May 22 when he went seven innings, allowing two runs. He gave up seven runs — six earned — in the loss at home on April 25.

Red Sox: With Lester’s future in limbo, Farrell said RHP Brandon Workman would be recalled from Triple-A Pawtuckett and get the start.

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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