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Volquez, Polanco lead Pirates over Marlins

By WTOP Staff

NATE BARNES
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco stepped into the batter’s box with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning. His team led the Miami Marlins by a run, and he had a golden opportunity to put the game out of reach.

After taking two pitches out of the zone, he fouled one back behind the third-base dugout. The next was hit foul down the left field line.

Polanco’s third cut did the trick as he laced left-hander Brian Flynn’s 2-2 offering to his opposite field for a two-run single that gave the Pirates a three-run lead.

The rookie finished 2 for 4 and drove in four runs, Edinson Volquez pitched one-hit ball over seven innings, and Pittsburgh beat Miami 7-2 Thursday night.

“I was just trying to see the ball and not hurry with my swing,” Polanco said. “He was throwing really good. That’s why I was fouling off so many balls.”

Polanco is showing he can handle left-handers early in his big league career.

“I think that’s the third time he’s shown that ability to hit a ball into left field off a left-hander,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “When they’re throwing down and away, he stayed out over the plate and covered it.”

Marlins reliever Dan Jennings was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of Jordy Mercer in the seventh.

Miami manager Mike Redmond said Jennings had his eyes open and was responding to questions when he was on the mound.

After the game, the Marlins announced that a CT scan on Jennings was negative and that he was diagnosed with a concussion. He was kept in a hospital overnight for observation.

Jennings momentarily stumbled before going to his knees after the play. He stood up to get in a cart and held up a hand to acknowledge the crowd as he was driven off the field.

Volquez (9-7) didn’t allow a hit until the fifth, when Donovan Solano singled with one out. Volquez struck out seven batters and walked three.

Flynn (0-1) was chased before he got an out in the fifth.

Mercer’s leadoff double started a three-run fourth. Polanco’s two-run single made it 3-0.

Mercer and Gaby Sanchez added RBI singles in the fifth. Mercer finished with three hits and scored twice, and Josh Harrison extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games.

Polanco hit a two-run double in the eighth.

Giancarlo Stanton hit his 27th homer of the season, a two-run drive in the ninth for the Marlins.

“It’s just one of those nights,” Redmond said. “We’ve got to be able to swing with these guys and we weren’t able to do it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: 1B John Baker was held out of the game after fouling a ball off his foot Wednesday night.

Pirates: Center fielder Andrew McCutchen (rib) missed his third straight game. Hurdle said the reigning MVP is adding to his recovery routine but it is still in a “wait-and-see” situation as to whether he will go on the disabled list. … Second baseman Neil Walker (back) sat out for the fourth time in five games. … Infielder Clint Barmes (groin) is nearing a return, with baserunning being the only obstacle in the way of a plan to come off the DL.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-6, 4.22 ERA) starts for the Marlins against RHP Mike Leake (9-9, 3,46 ERA) on Friday night as Miami continues its six-game trip in Cincinnati. Eovaldi makes his second career start against the Reds. He pitched seven innings and allowed a run on two hits in Miami’s extra-inning win Saturday.

Pirates: Pittsburgh opens a three-game set with San Diego at home as RHP Vance Worley (4-1, 2.43 ERA) faces RHP Ian Kennedy (8-9, 3.59 ERA). Worley has allowed just one run in his last two starts, which included his first career shutout on July 28 in San Francisco.

GETAWAY DAY STRIKE ZONE

Of Volquez’s seven strikeouts Thursday night, four were called third strikes. After Volquez one-hit the Miami Marlins for seven innings, Redmond thought the Pirates’ right-hander received aid from the umpire,

“He got some help back (behind the plate) too,” Redmond said. “He got some strike calls there. A lot of them.”

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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