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Pirates struggle to score in 2-1 loss to Padres

By WTOP Staff

NATE BARNES
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jordy Mercer led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single and Russell Martin doubled to put men on second and third with no outs and the Pittsburgh Pirates down by a run.

With the Pirates primed to at least tie the game, if not take the lead, San Diego Padres reliever Kevin Quackenbush had other plans. He broke Ike Davis’ bat on a line out, struck out Starling Marte and induced a fly ball from Gregory Polanco to silence the scoring threat.

“We weren’t able to make good outs,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said, “let alone get a hit.”

The 2-1 lead held the rest of the way as Eric Stults earned his first road win of the season Saturday.

Stults (5-13) pitched 6 1-3 innings and gave up one run and seven hits, struck out six and walked none. He entered the game with an 0-9 record away from Petco Park.

The Padres scored both runs in the first inning off Francisco Liriano (3-8). San Diego loaded the bases with no outs and scored on Jedd Gyorko’s RBI single and Yasmani Grandal’s sacrifice fly.

Pittsburgh answered in the home half when Josh Harrison led off with a single, stole second and scored on Russell Martin’s RBI single.

Hurdle chalked up Liriano’s arduous first inning to a spot of bad luck.

“A few well-placed groundballs,” Hurdle said. “The hit batter didn’t help, that was the one misstep.”

After Gyorko’s single Liriano retired the next 19 batters he faced before walking Grandal with two outs in the seventh. He gave up three hits and a walk in seven innings.

San Diego manager Bud Black, a former pitching coach, noted the effects to which each starter used his changeup.

“I thought that was the key for both pitchers to keep that score at 2-1 basically the entire game,” Black said. “It was a very deserving win for Stultsy because he matched a guy who had us handcuffed after the first inning.”

Jared Hughes pitched a scoreless eighth for Pittsburgh. Hughes hit Tommy Medica in the back of the head with a pitch to load the bases. Medica left the game.

“We caught a break there,” Black said. “It was a hard fastball with velocity and movement but fortunately he was evaluated by the Pirates’ team doctor (Edward Snell) and checked out fine. Obviously, it was good that he got on his feel and could walk off on his own.”

Joaquin Benoit struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Right-hander Andrew Cashner (shoulder) made his first rehab start for Single-A Lake Elsinore on Friday night and threw 24 pitches over two scoreless innings. Black said Cashner’s velocity was normal and he received good reports. Cashner is slated to throw a side session with Elsinore on Monday and then make his second rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.

Pirates: Center fielder Andrew McCutchen (rib) missed his fifth straight game. … Second baseman Neil Walker (back) could be nearing a return to the starting lineup after participating in batting practice and field work before each of the last two games. He pinch-hit in the ninth inning, his first action since Tuesday.

ON DECK

Padres: Right-hander Tyson Ross (10-10, 2.62 ERA) looks to continue his strong season as the Padres wrap up their five-game trip. Ross is among the league leaders in innings this season with 154 2-3. He had thrown at least six innings in 18 of his 22 starts this season.

Pirates: Right-hander Charlie Morton (5-10, 3.43 ERA) attempts to stay undefeated against San Diego. The sinkerballer is 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA in four career starts against the Padres, with the latest win coming in Pittsburgh 10-3 at Petco Park June 2 with Morton allowing two runs in five innings.

ACROSS THE DIAMOND

Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez, removed from the bereavement list Friday, has taken infield work at first base before the Pirates’ games each of the last two days. The move is a potential solution to get Alvarez’s bat back in the regular lineup while reducing the risks associated with his league-high 23 throwing errors.

“Maybe this move can free him up offensively and defensively,” Hurdle said. “He’s willing to give it a shot. Time will tell.”

Alvarez was an All-Star in 2013 and tied for the league lead with 36 home runs a year ago, but the plague of throwing errors has dropped him out of regular duty in 2014. Alvarez recognizes the value of giving his team flexibility, but would like to stay at the position he’s regularly played since he was 12 years old if he had it his way.

“The desire to be the best third baseman I can be is still in play,” Alvarez said.

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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