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Cobb, Rays hit .500 after tough start, blank Yanks

By WTOP Staff

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Now that they’re back at the break-even point, the Tampa Bay Rays want to keep going and going.

Alex Cobb pitched neatly into the eighth inning and the Rays became just the fourth team in major league history to reach .500 after falling 18 games under in the same season, beating the New York Yankees 5-0 Friday night.

“Really proud of the boys,” manager Joe Maddon said. “It was not easy.”

The Rays won their third in a row and sent New York to its fifth straight loss.

Tampa Bay also accomplished the comeback feat in 2004 when known as the Devil Rays. The 1899 Louisville Colonels and 2006 Florida Marlins have also gotten back . 500 after dropping 18 under.

The Rays, now 61-61, were 24-42 on June 10. They are trying to become the first club to finish with a winning record after being so far under.

“It started with Joe and not letting us believe that we were that team,” Cobb said. “It’s mind-boggling that we went through the stretch we did, but we’re back on track now.”

Cobb (8-6) gave up six hits in 7 1-3 innings, striking out eight and walking one. He improved 4-0 in six career home starts against the Yankees.

“Fabulous,” Maddon said.

Cobb landed awkwardly on his left foot after fielding Brett Gardner’s grounder in the sixth. He said the foot is fine, but expects some stiffness Saturday.

After giving up a single to Derek Jeter that loaded the bases, Brad Boxberger struck Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Teixeira.

“We didn’t score,” New York manager Joe Girardi said. “That was the problem.”

Tampa Bay has held its opponents to three runs or less in a club-record 11 consecutive games.

Brandon McCarthy (4-2) gave up four runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings. New York has scored a total of seven runs during its current skid, which includes a pair of shutouts.

The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the first on RBI grounders by Evan Longoria and James Loney.

Loney homered in the eighth when Esmil Rogers tried to quick pitch him.

Curt Casali singled home a run and Ben Zobrist hit the Rays’ third RBI grounder of the game during the seventh as Tampa Bay took a 4-0 lead.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: C Brian McCann could be activated from the seven-day concussion list this weekend. … RHP Masahiro Tanaka (right elbow) will have his first bullpen session Saturday.

Rays: CF Desmond Jennings (sore left shoulder) was back in the starting lineup after missing two games.

BOXER TIME

Boxberger has allowed just one hit in 56 at-bats against left-handed hitters since May 21.

“I don’t want (to talk about it),” Maddon said of the right-hander’s success. “Let them figure it out.”

JETER METER

Jeter, who is retiring after the season, had two singles in four at-bats after getting a partial standing ovation before his first at-bat.

UP NEXT

Rays LHP Drew Smyly (7-10) and Yankees rookie RHP Shane Greene (3-1) are Saturday’s scheduled starters. Smyly will make his first home start since being obtained from Detroit in a three-team deal July 31 that sent Tampa Bay ace David Price to the Tigers.

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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