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Rockies give up 3 homers in 11-5 loss to Tigers

By WTOP Staff

DETROIT (AP) — The Colorado Rockies stayed with the Detroit Tigers early but just couldn’t keep up the pace.

The Rockies lost 11-5 to the Tigers on Saturday night as starter Tyler Matzek (2-6) was hammered for eight runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings.

“I was just up in the zone a little bit,” Matzek said. “I was hitting the sides all right, but I left some of them up and they were getting to them.”

The game was tied 2-2 after two innings but Detroit scored in all eight innings they batted.

“That’s a tough lineup to get through,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.

Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez all homered for Detroit. Alex Avila had three hits and drove in two runs and Ian Kinsler had three hits and an RBI for the Tigers, who got at least a hit from each batter in the starting lineup.

“It was perfect the way everyone hit. Everyone contributed in some fashion,” Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. “Nice to see us get some separation. Our offense has been kind of sluggish the last week-to-10 days.”

Colorado didn’t score again until it managed three in the ninth, after matters had been decided.

That’s because Rick Porcello (13-5) found his groove after laboring the first two innings. He allowed two runs and five hits and struck out a season-high 10.

“He had some really good movement and kept pitches in the strike zone,” Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon said. “He was able to mix them up pretty well.”

Weiss added: “He had very good command and pitched to the edge of the plate. That’s why he’s having a good year.”

Colorado scored three in the ninth off of reliever Patrick McCoy.

Drew Stubbs singled in a run, Wilin Rosario doubled one in and Blackmon brought in the final tally with a groundout.

TAPE MEASURE BLAST

Cabrera broke a 2-2 tie with two outs in the third with his 17th home run, a tape measure solo shot, that put Detroit up for good. The drive to center field was estimated by ESPN Stats & Info at 445 feet.

“Just a hanging changeup left over the plate, the outer half,” Matzek said.

Obviously, Porcello had a different take on it.

“You can’t help to be excited when you see that,” Porcello said. “I was a fan there. Pretty fun.”

ROCKIES MOVE

Colorado selected the contract of outfielder Jason Pridie from Triple-A Colorado Springs and left-hander Pedro Hernandez was designated for assignment.

RARE FEAT

It was the first time Detroit scored in all eight innings of a nine-inning home win since 1912.

UP NEXT: Sanchez (7-5, 3.57) goes against Jorge De La Rosa (11-6, 4.20) of the Rockies in Sunday’s finale of the three-game series. It will be the 19th consecutive start by a left-hander for Colorado. The major league record (since 1914) is 20 straight by the 1982 Kansas City Royals. Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau is hitting .316 (6 for 19) against Sanchez with two RBIs.

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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