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Longoria homers, Rays rough up Wilson, Angels 10-3

By WTOP Staff

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays turned the tables on C.J. Wilson.

Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer, Ben Zobrist got four hits and the Rays roughed up the left-hander and the Los Angeles Angels 10-3 on Saturday night.

Longoria put the Rays up 2-0 with his 13th homer of the season, connecting in the first inning off Wilson (8-7). Longoria became the first Tampa Bay player to reach 600 career RBIs.

Brandon Guyer hit a two-run single that ended Wilson’s night during a four-run second that put Tampa Bay ahead 6-0.

“Whenever we played Wilson, he’s normally got the better of us,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “It was kind of unusual to see that moment. I know he had struggled a bit before he went on the DL, but nevertheless it’s still awkward because this guy is so good.”

Wilson made his first start since July 9 because of a sprained right ankle. He threw a complete game five-hitter to beat the Rays 6-0 on May 17. Over his last five starts, Wilson is 1-1 with a 12.50 ERA.

“The overriding theme we’ve seen with C.J. is just controlling counts and missing spots and not being able to put hitters away,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think we saw some of that tonight. He was struggling to find his release point. We need him to figure it out.”

Chris Archer (7-6) struck out nine over six innings. Logan Forsythe hit a solo homer and Zobrist had an RBI double during a four-run eighth.

“The team gave me some wiggle room,” Archer said.

Howie Kendrick and Hank Conger had RBI doubles in a three-run fourth that cut the Angels’ deficit to 6-3. Los Angeles had two on with one out in the eighth, but failed to score when Kendrick and David Freese struck out.

Angels slugger Josh Hamilton went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts and a walk one day after being hit on the left middle finger by a pitch.

Los Angeles reliever Joe Thatcher left in the fourth with a sprained left ankle, which occurred while fielding Guyer’s bunt single. Scioscia expects Thatcher will be placed on the disabled list.

The Rays are 5-3 on a current nine-game homestand. It’s their first winning homestand since May 20-25. James Loney added three hits and has reached base in 21 consecutive games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: Outfielder Collin Cowgill, sidelined by a broken nose, has started a rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake.

Rays: Right fielder Wil Myers, on the disabled list since May 31 because of a broken right wrist, hopes to start a rehab assignment next Saturday at Triple-A Durham. Catcher Ryan Hanigan, out with a strained left oblique, started a rehab assignment with Single-A Charlotte.

ON DECK

Angels right-hander Jered Weaver (11-6) is looking to improve on a 4-4 record in 10 starts against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (7-8) has allowed three runs or less in nine straight starts.

SMYLY TIME

Drew Smyly joined the Rays on Saturday, two days after being acquired as part of a three-team deal that sent ace David Price to Detroit. The former Tigers left-hander is scheduled to start Tuesday at Oakland.

MR. POTATO HEAD BP

Scioscia wanted a Maddon “Mr. Potato Head” to see what Saturday night’s giveaway looked like. The Rays manager, a long-time coach for Scioscia, sent over a full box.

Scioscia then sent Maddon a funny video of the Angels skipper using a fungo bat to hit soft tosses of “Mr. Potato Head,” around the office.

“Mashed potato heads,” Maddon said with a smile.

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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