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Astros rally for 5-3 win over Red Sox in 10

By WTOP Staff

DOUG ALDEN
Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros had no shortage of reasons to celebrate.

The Astros ended a franchise winless streak at Fenway Park with a pesky performance, rallying to tie Boston twice before finishing off the Red Sox in extra innings.

Jake Marisnick hit a two-run double with two outs in the 10th on Friday night for a 5-3 victory, giving the Astros their first win in nine games at Fenway Park. With their 51st win of the season, the Astros matched last year’s total.

“It’s a huge credit to the players in that locker room and our staff,” manager Bo Porter said. “They worked extremely hard and we still have six weeks left to go in the season.”

Gregorio Petit entered as a pinch runner in the eighth inning and scored twice, including the tying run in the eighth on a wild sequence that withstood two challenges by Boston. The Red Sox lost both — and the game, ending their winning streak at four.

The Astros tied it after falling behind 2-0, then 3-2 before taking their first lead in the 10th after loading the bases with none out against reliever Craig Breslow (2-4). Boston got two quick outs that kept Houston from scoring, but Marisnick delivered with a blooper that bounced just inside the right-field line and into the stands for a ground-rule double.

“You can’t defend a bloop double down the line,” Boston manager John Farrell said.

The ending was almost anticlimactic compared to the way Houston tied it in the eighth with hustle and a little bit of good fortune.

Petit came all the way around from second base on a fielder’s choice after Dexter Fowler slid safely into second to beat shortstop Xander Bogaerts’ throw to Dustin Pedroia, who saw Petit had rounded third and fired a strike to Christian Vazquez at the plate.

Petit sidestepped out of range for Vazquez to tag him and lunged toward home, getting a hand safely on the plate.

“When I first looked I knew I was going to be out. The throw was there way before I was,” Petit said. “Then at the end of the play, I’m safe.”

Boston reliever Burke Badenhop dropped the short throw from Vazquez, so Petit was going to be safe regardless. Boston still challenged the call at home and the play at second to no avail.

Both calls were upheld.

The Astros tacked on two runs in the 10th, then Tony Sipp (3-2) shut down the Red Sox in order to end it.

NO DECISION

Houston starter Dallas Keuchel’s night was done long before the game was decided. He struck out eight while holding Boston to three runs on six hits and three walks over seven innings. Then he watched as his teammates completed the comeback.

“Fifty-one wins right now and we’ve got six weeks left. I think we’re surprising a lot of people,” Keuchel said. “It’s a great win tonight. First win at Fenway, which is pretty cool.”

NO CYCLE

Rob Grossman’s solo homer in the seventh tied it 2-all. He drove the first pitch he saw from Clay Buchholz out to right and finished 3 for 5, just a triple shy of the cycle.

CHANGE IS GOOD

Marisnick went 2 for 5 and increased his batting average to .315 with the Astros since he was traded by Miami at the deadline. Marisnick, who was hitting .167 for the Marlins in 14 games, is 17 for 54 in 14 games with Houston.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Porter said the Astros aren’t taking any chances with LHP Darin Downs, who is sitting out a little while because of discomfort in his right oblique. Although Porter described it as “minor,” the Astros called up LHP Kevin Chapman from Triple-A as Downs rests.

Red Sox: C David Ross (plantar tendon) took batting practice and is doing footwork with his shin guards on. He has been on the disabled list since Aug. 2.

UP NEXT

RHP Brad Peacock (3-8, 5.25 ERA) faces the Red Sox for the first time since a very short outing in Houston on July 13. Peacock was pulled with one out in the first after Brock Holt hit a leadoff homer, then Boston loaded the bases on a single, a walk and a hit batter.

Boston RHP Rubby De La Rosa (4-4, 3.21) tries to win back-to-back starts for the second time this season. De La Rosa, who won consecutive starts in July but then lost his next two, held the Angels to one run on five hits and struck out eight over seven innings Sunday.

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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