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Panik helps Giants beat Phillies 6-5

By WTOP Staff

RICK EYMER
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants may have found their answer at second base. Joe Panik is showing he belongs in the lineup.

Panik tripled and scored on Gregor Blanco’s tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, helping the Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 on Saturday.

Panik, one of eight players the Giants have tried at second, also had an RBI single in San Francisco’s four-run rally in the sixth. The rookie is batting .410 (16 for 39) in his last 11 games.

“I feel like I’ve hit my stride here,” Panik said. “When you first come up, everything is new to you. Once I got settled in, I got a feel for everything.”

Michael Morse had two doubles and a triple as San Francisco won for the second time in three games following a five-game skid. Blanco went 2 for 2 with two RBIs.

“The bats came to life and we started placing the ball well,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “That picks up the energy. It’s a great win, particularly after the loss we had last night.”

Ryan Howard had three hits and three RBIs for the Phillies, who have lost six of eight. Ben Revere went 4 for 5.

Five San Francisco relievers combined for five scoreless innings after Tim Hudson struggled, giving the Giants time to rally. Jeremy Affledt (3-1) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win and Sergio Romo got the final two outs for his 23rd save.

Panik led off the eighth with his first career triple and Blanco, who entered as a pinch hitter in the sixth, singled past a drawn-in infield. Antonio Bastardo (5-7) took the loss.

“I got to two strikes and I was just battling,” Panik said. “I tried to put a good swing on the ball and I was fortunate enough to hit the gap.”

Hudson was charged with five runs and eight hits in four-plus innings.

“I wasn’t really in synch,” Hudson said.

The Phillies scored three times in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead. Howard had a two-run single against Hudson, improving to .343 (24 for 70) for his career against the right-hander.

Kyle Kendrick pitched five innings for the Phillies, yielding four runs and eight hits.

Buster Posey sparked San Francisco’s rally in the sixth with a leadoff single. Pablo Sandoval then hit a high pop fly that dropped between Howard and second baseman Chase Utley. Posey reached second when Utley’s backhanded flip took Jimmy Rollins off the base.

“I felt Chase behind me and I heard him say something,” Howard said. “All I heard was ‘Got it.’ Talking to him later, he was saying ‘You got it.’ It was a small communication mistake and it started a rally.”

Morse doubled home a run and pinch-hitter Adam Duvall drew a walk. Panik and Blanco each followed with soft fly balls that fell in front of outfielders for run-scoring singles.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: RHP Mike Adams (right labrum fraying) is on a long-toss throwing program. He last pitched in a game on June 6.

Giants: C Hector Sanchez was held out of Friday’s rehab game with Triple-A Fresno as he continues his rehab assignment since being cleared to play following a concussion. He was 3 for 18 in his first six games with the Grizzlies.

WHAT’S NEXT

Phillies: RHP David Buchanan (6-3, 4.40 ERA) makes his third start since returning to the majors for his second stint. After allowing seven home runs in his first five starts, Buchanan has allowed two over his last seven. The Phillies have won eight of their last 13 games at AT&T Park.

Giants: RHP Tim Lincecum (9-8, 4.51 ERA) gets the ball in Sunday’s series finale. He is 5-3 in 13 career appearances against the Phillies.

THE KENDRICK FILE

Kendrick can’t seem to catch a break when he starts during the day. He left Saturday’s game with a lead but ended up with a no-decision and is 1-10 over his last 16 daytime starts.

“He’s a competitor,” Utley said. “I don’t blame him for being frustrated for coming out of the game.”

He gave up a first-inning drive by Hunter Pence for the eighth homer he’s allowed in the opening frame. He’s allowed 25 first-inning runs in his 25 starts.

Kendrick declined comment.

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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