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Phils can’t hold early lead in 4-3 loss to Angels

By WTOP Staff

GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A.J. Burnett and Ryan Howard have grown familiar with the frustration they felt after the Philadelphia Phillies blew another lead in yet another loss.

Missed opportunities are the theme of the Phillies’ season — but they insist it isn’t over yet.

Howie Kendrick delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning, and Jered Weaver pitched six resilient innings in the Los Angeles Angels’ 4-3 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday night.

Brennan Boesch drove in two runs as the Angels swept a two-game series with the last-place Phillies, who have lost five of six. Philadelphia had a sixth-inning lead in both games at the Big A, but couldn’t keep it.

“It’s definitely been frustrating,” said Howard, who struck out with a runner on to end the seventh in his first career trip to Angel Stadium. “I mean, nobody signs up to come out and have the season that we’re having. It’s unfortunate. The guys come out every day with a positive attitude and compete, but it hasn’t gone our way. We’ve just got to keep working and try to come together and go from there.”

Marlon Byrd and Jimmy Rollins had early run-scoring singles for the Phillies, who have lost nine straight games to the Angels since 2003. That’s their longest losing streak against a team since 2005 and their longest active skid against any team.

“We outhit them 11-6, and we had some walks in there, but we weren’t able to come up with the big bat to drive in a crooked number,” Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg said. “Weaver mixed it up and changed speeds real well.”

Weaver (13-7) yielded two runs and eight hits for the Angels, improving to 6-1 in his last 10 starts.

“You keep this team in the game, and the offense is going to come through,” said Weaver, who improved to 16-4 in interleague play. “If you can limit those guys, we’ll always have a chance.”

One night after Los Angeles scored seven runs in the sixth, it scored three more against Burnett (6-13), who had shut down the Angels in the first five.

Albert Pujols started the rally with a one-out double, and Kendrick’s bases-loaded bloop landed just inside the right-field line. Boesch, recalled from the minors Tuesday, then added an RBI groundout. He also had a sacrifice fly in the second.

Burnett gave up five hits and four walks over six innings, dropping to 0-5 in his last six starts.

“I don’t feel snakebit,” Burnett said. “It’s in my control. I mean, it definitely hasn’t gone the way I wanted it to. I’m very discouraged. I’m not going to lie. I’m not a bit happy, but the season is not over.”

Grady Sizemore tripled and scored on Domonic Brown’s groundout in the eighth against Joe Smith, but Huston Street pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

TROUT SNARED:

Mike Trout went 0 for 4, capping an ugly 4-for-29 homestand for the Angels’ MVP candidate. Trout, who grew up a Phillies fan in southern New Jersey, saw his average drop from .305 to .294 in seven games.

SWIPING BAGS:

Jimmy Rollins stole two bases for Philadelphia, giving him 23 steals this season and surpassing his total from 2013. Leadoff hitter Ben Revere stole his 33rd base, but also was picked off first by Weaver after his game-opening single.

TRAINER’S ROOM:

Angels: Tyler Skaggs had elbow ligament replacement surgery Wednesday. He won’t return until 2016. Reliever Mike Morin, who cut his foot, is scheduled to pitch in the minors Thursday, hoping to return to the Angels on Saturday.

UP NEXT:

Phillies: After a travel day, Cole Hamels (6-6, 2.37 ERA) takes the mound in San Francisco.

Angels: After a day off, Garrett Richards (12-4, 2.54 ERA) opens a weekend series at Texas.

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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