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Indians stop Rangers 2-0

By WTOP Staff

CLEVELAND (AP) — A night after flexing their muscles, the Cleveland Indians used a different tactic to beat the Texas Rangers.

While the offense was limited to run-scoring singles by Lonnie Chisenhall and Nick Swisher in the sixth inning, five pitchers combined on a five-hitter for a 2-0 victory on Saturday night.

“We got a couple of big hits and we were able to piece it together,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Scott Atchison (4-0) pitched 1 2-3 innings and worked out of a two-on, no-out jam in the sixth.

Cody Allen worked a shaky ninth for his 14th save. J.P. Arencibia drew a leadoff walk and Leonys Martin singled, but Allen regrouped. Pinch-hitter Jim Adduci struck out and Rougned Odor fouled out before Daniel Robertson struck out to end the 24-pitch inning.

“Luckily, I was able to make some pitches to get out of it,” Allen said. “You’re going to get in jams. You’re facing very good hitters who are going to beat you. It’s just part of being a closer.”

The win moved the Indians (55-55) back to .500 while the Rangers have dropped 18 of 21 away from home and are the worst team in the majors (43-67).

The Indians pounded out 16 hits in a 12-2 win Friday, but couldn’t do anything with Texas starter Miles Mikolas, who went into the game with an 8.54 ERA, through five innings.

That finally changed in the sixth. Jason Kipnis started the rally with a single, took second on a sacrifice and went to third on a groundout. The Rangers elected to walk Carlos Santana intentionally on a 2-0 count, but Chisenhall foiled that strategy by dropping a single into center field on the first pitch.

Swisher lined a single to right for a two-run lead.

“Lonnie found some outfield grass and Swish got the hit,” Francona said.

“He tried to get in on Chiz and he jammed him, but there was just enough there for him to hit,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “That was a tough break for Miles.”

T.J. House, called up from the minors before the game, pitched five scoreless innings for Cleveland.

House, who struck out seven and allowed three hits, was pulled in the sixth when Elvis Andrus drew a leadoff walk and took second on Alex Rios’ infield hit. Atchison retired Adrian Beltre on a groundout that moved both runners into scoring position.

Andrus was tagged out in a rundown trying to score on Arencibia’s grounder. Martin struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.

Mikolas (1-4) allowed two runs in seven innings.

BIG FAN

Francona led his players and coaching staff to the pregame ceremony in which the Indians unveiled a statue of Jim Thome. As an opposing manager, Francona always respected Thome’s power. “If you go to a game, you don’t really want to go get something to eat when he’s hitting,” Francona said. His strategy to stop Thome seldom worked. “When he walked to the plate I’d gave him the bunt sign,” Francona said. “He’d always smile and hit one in the upper deck.”

TAKE IT INSIDE

The plan for Indians outfielder Michael Bourn (strained left hamstring) to run the bases was scrubbed by an afternoon thunderstorm. So he was sent across the street to Quicken Loans Arena, where the Cleveland Gladiators were hosting an Arena League playoff game. Bases were set up on the carpeted playing surface and Bourn was able to get in his work before the football game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: Catcher Geovany Soto (strained right groin) was scheduled to catch seven innings Saturday on his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Round Rock. He went 1 for 2 with a walk Friday in his debut with the Express. Soto has only played in three major league games this season after undergoing right knee surgery in late March.

Indians: Outfielder Chris Dickerson missed his second straight game with a sore left knee, but Francona said he will probably be able to play Sunday. Dickerson left Thursday’s game when he made an awkward attempt to catch a fly ball that fell for a double.

ON DECK

Rangers: Right-hander Yu Darvish (10-6) will start the finale of the three-game series on Sunday. Darvish’s 1.24 ERA in day games is the second-lowest in the AL, while his 2.90 season ERA ranks ninth.

Indians: Right-hander Trevor Bauer (4-5) starts for Cleveland. He faced Texas for the first time in his career on June 6, allowing four earned runs in 6 1-3 innings and taking the loss.

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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