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Beltran hits grand slam, Rogers solid for Yankees

By WTOP Staff

HOWIE RUMBERG
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon McCarthy. Chris Capuano. Shane Greene. And now, Esmil Rogers.

The New York Yankees have gone on an improbable run to get right back in the thick of the playoff race and an unlikely bunch of pitchers have led the way.

Rogers, perhaps the unlikeliest of all, worked five sharp innings Friday night and Carlos Beltran hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Yankees beat the sloppy Cleveland Indians 10-6 for their sixth win in seven games.

“They’ve pitched extremely well,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I’m not sure any of us knew exactly what to expect, but since the All-Star break we’ve had a chance to win every game and that’s because of them.”

The Yankees walked seven times in moving seven games above .500 (61-54) for the first time this season. They are 14-7 since the break.

Derek Jeter tied Honus Wagner for sixth place on the career list with his 3,430th hit in a five-run first inning against Trevor Bauer (4-7). Beltran’s 11th career slam highlighted a five-run sixth. The Indians, who have the majors’ worst fielding percentage, prolonged both innings with errors in their fourth straight loss overall and seventh in a row in the Bronx.

“I think we all understand the type of team we need to be to win, and not making teams earn every single thing they get does not put us in the best position to win,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Picked up off waivers on July 31 after the Toronto Blue Jays cut him for the second time this season, Rogers (2-0) became the 12th player to make a start for New York.

Pitching in place of David Phelps (elbow inflammation), he allowed one run and four hits over five innings in his first start since Sept. 25 for Toronto and threw 88 pitches — 45 was his high this season coming in.

“I didn’t have my confidence like I have right now,” Rogers said about the difference between the way he is pitching now compared to earlier in the season.

Rogers’ outing followed four fine starts by a makeshift rotation against the Detroit Tigers’ heralded staff. Three of those came from pitchers who made their first start for the Yankees in July: McCarthy, Capuano and Greene.

The Yankees took advantage of three walks by Bauer in the first inning. Beltran, Stephen Drew and Martin Prado had RBI singles and another run scored on second baseman Jason Kipnis’ throwing error.

Bauer was charged with five runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings.

John Axford walked the bases loaded — one intentional — before Beltran connected.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: Center fielder Michael Brantley was given the start at designated hitter to “get him off his legs,” Francona said. The All-Star was 1 for 7 in two losses at Cincinnati. … Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall was out of the starting lineup because he looked fatigued, Francona said. Chisenhall is hitless in his last 13 at-bats.

Yankees: First baseman Mark Teixeira sat out his second straight game after getting stitches in his left pinkie Wednesday night. … Michael Pineda struck out seven without walking a batter in 4 1-3 innings of a rehab start for Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes/Barre. He threw 72 pitches and allowed six hits and a run. … Catcher Brian McCann left in the sixth inning with a mild concussion. He was hit in the mask by a foul ball earlier in the game. He will be reevaluated Saturday before the Yankees learn if he goes on the 7-day concussion DL.

UP NEXT

Cleveland’s Corey Kluber (12-6) will be pitching on four days’ rest when he faces McCarthy (4-0) Saturday. The Yankees have not lost in any of McCarthy’s five starts since arriving in a trade with Arizona in early July. New York will honor Paul O’Neill, a fan favorite on four World Series teams from 1996-2000, before the game.

EMPTY THE ‘PENS

The Indians and Yankees combined to use 11 relievers — six for Cleveland. The Yankees’ Shawn Kelley and Cleveland’s Axford were hit hardest. They both yielded four runs. Kelley got only one out while Axford retired two batters.

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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