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Pujols’ HR in 19th lifts Angels over Red Sox 5-4

By WTOP Staff

JOE RESNICK
Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — After the Los Angeles Angels stranded 16 runners through 18 innings — including nine in scoring position — Albert Pujols provided the biggest blow with no one on.

Pujols homered leading off the 19th inning, and the Angels outlasted the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Saturday night in the longest game in the major leagues this season.

Pujols’ 514th career homer and 22nd of the season came on a 3-2 pitch from Brandon Workman (1-6). The towering drive disappeared into the seats above the 18-foot wall in right-center.

“I had the opportunity twice to give the team the lead and I didn’t come through, but you just need to stay positive all the time and look for a pitch to hit,” Pujols said following a 6-hour, 31-minute marathon in which both teams used nine pitchers, and 558 pitches were thrown. “I did, and I put my best swing of the second half on it.”

Boston manager John Farrell made a replay challenge, claiming there was fan interference, but the home run stood.

The Angels had run out of relievers, so Matt Shoemaker (10-4) came in and retired all nine batters he faced to get the victory.

The Angels tied the game in both the eighth and 14th innings.

After David Ortiz gave Boston a 4-3 lead in the 14th with a sacrifice fly, the Angels loaded the bases with none out against Junichi Tazawa.

Mike Trout drove in the tying run with a fielder’s choice grounder that scored pinch-hitter Chris Iannetta, who opened the inning with a double.

“That tells you something about this ballclub,” Pujols said. “We could have easily just say, ‘Forget it’ after David Ortiz’s sacrifice fly and just come back tomorrow. But Chris came back a hit a huge double and we ended up tying the game.

“A game like this can hopefully turn things around for us. And if that’s the case, it’s worth it to play 19 innings.”

Clay Buchholz, who gave up seven runs in each of his previous starts and threw a season-high 114 pitches last Sunday against the Yankees, took a 3-2 lead into the eighth. But Trout drove the right-hander’s 115th pitch into the seats in right-center with one out for his 26th home run, and just his second in 17 games.

“As hard-fought as we played this game — as did they — sometimes extended games can feel like two losses when you come out on the short end,” Farrell said. “But I couldn’t have been more proud of the way our guys battled through 19 innings.”

Five days after beating the Dodgers 5-0 for his first major league shutout, Angels starter Garrett Richards took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Dustin Pedroia broke it up with a leadoff single. It was the first of three straight hits, followed by two infield errors that helped Boston pull ahead 3-2.

Until then, Richards hadn’t allowed an unearned run all season. The 26-year-old right-hander from nearby Riverside was charged with three runs — one earned — and three hits in 6 2-3 innings in his first career start against Boston.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: Catcher David Ross, who hasn’t played since Aug. 1 because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot, appears on course to be activated on Aug. 17 when he is eligible to come off the disabled list.

Angels: reliever Joe Thatcher, who has missed seven games with a sprained left ankle, isn’t expected back from the DL until the Angels host Oakland in a pivotal four-game series from Aug. 28-31.

ON DECK

Red Sox right-hander Rubby De La Rosa (3-4, 3.43 ERA) opposes Angels lefty Hector Santiago (3-7, 3.84 ERA) in the series finale Sunday. Santiago lost both of his starts against Boston last year while pitching for the Chicago White Sox.

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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