Skip to main content

Cueto, Negron lift Reds to 3-2 win over Rockies

By WTOP Staff

PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — Johnny Cueto took off his hat, tucked his glove inside it and cradled them both like a football in his left arm as he sauntered ever-so-slowly off the mound after each inning.

This was his little routine and it was working effectively for him.

Of course, so were his almost unhittable cutter and four-seam fastball.

Cueto threw eight stellar innings to become the first 15-game winner in the majors and Kris Negron had a career-high four hits, including a tiebreaking single in the ninth, as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Friday night.

Cincinnati’s ace came through in a big way. Cueto (15-6) allowed two runs and six hits to help the Reds snap a three-game skid. He is 7-0 since a loss at San Diego on July 2.

“As a manager, it’s very comfortable being able to put your stock into one guy,” Reds skipper Bryan Price said. “You go all in with Johnny and you don’t fear losing the game late.”

Nolan Arenado was about the only Rockies hitter who was making good contact against Cueto. Arenado homered and had two deep flyouts. After watching Billy Hamilton catch his drive to center in the eighth, Arenado passed by Cueto and grinned at something the pitcher said.

“He was saying, ‘You just missed that,'” Arenado recounted. “He’s one of the best in the league. He’s an animal. As the situation and innings got tighter, he got better.”

Negron lined a two-out single up the middle off Adam Ottavino (0-4) to bring in Ramon Santiago with the go-ahead run.

Aroldis Chapman closed for his 26th save in 28 chances. Charlie Culberson drew a one-out walk and pinch-hitter Mike McKenry sent a shot down the line that first baseman Brayan Pena — who started the game at catcher — snared as he toppled over. Pena then touched first base with his glove to double up Culberson.

Cueto worked his way out of a jam in the sixth after giving up a tying RBI double to Corey Dickerson. With one out and the bases loaded, Cueto struck out Culberson with a 95 mph fastball and then fanned D.J. LeMahieu with the same pitch.

The hard-throwing righty splintered quite a few bats with his heavy pitches running in on the hands of hitters.

“His cutter is just filthy,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “There’s a reason why he’s been as successful as he has been.”

The Rockies turned reliever Matt Belisle into an emergency starter when Franklin Morales was a late scratch after his wife went into labor. Belisle and five other relievers kept the game close until the ninth.

Belisle allowed one run and tossed a season-high 49 pitches in three innings. It was his first start since May 25, 2008, with the Reds.

“When you sign the contract, it doesn’t tell you when you’re going to pitch,” Belisle said. “I looked at it as a great opportunity.”

FAMILY AFFAIR

Negron picked quite a game to have his parents and grandmother fly in from California. He jokingly said he’s going to have them take him to the same restaurant and then sit in the same seats Saturday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: 3B Todd Frazier was out of the starting lineup with a balky back, which he hurt the night after hitting a ball off the end of his bat. “Pain shot up the right side of my back,” Frazier said. He said he thinks it’s a muscle strain in his lower back. He’s day to day.

Rockies: Weiss said it “sounds like things went well” with SS Troy Tulowitzki’s hip surgery Friday in Vail. OF Carlos Gonzalez will have surgery on his left knee Monday.

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Dylan Axelrod is expected to be brought up from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday to fill in for injured Homer Bailey, who’s headed to the disabled list with a strained right elbow. It will be Axelrod’s first major league start since last September.

Rockies: RHP Jordan Lyles (6-1, 3.70 ERA) will make his third start since returning from the DL. He missed two months with a broken left hand.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote