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Angels rally in 10th for 4-3 win over Oakland

By WTOP Staff

GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Angels and Athletics realize their paths to the World Series are likely to cross repeatedly this fall. Both AL West powers are prepared to grind out wins similar to the one Howie Kendrick delivered in their series opener.

Kendrick drove in Albert Pujols with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and Los Angeles opened a two-game lead atop the major league standings with a 4-3 victory Thursday night over Oakland, which finished the game under protest over a ninth-inning obstruction call.

Josh Hamilton had a 10th-inning single as the Angels (80-53) edged Oakland (78-55) to begin a four-game series between the California clubs with the majors’ two best records.

They’ve already got a rivalry, and Kendrick knows the postseason stakes make it even more exciting.

“Every time we play these guys, it’s a great game,” said Kendrick, who also had two hits. “We’ve already had a few walk-offs against these guys. We know we’ve got to play them … down the stretch.”

Pujols drew a leadoff walk from Ryan Cook (1-2) in the 10th, and Hamilton moved him to third with a bouncing hit up the middle.

Kendrick’s long fly to right easily drove in the slow-footed Pujols, setting off a playoff-worthy celebration by the Angels, who have won 12 of 16.

“There’s been a lot of times I’ve failed in that situation, so you just try to take from those experiences,” Kendrick said.

Fernando Salas (5-0) pitched a perfect 10th for the Angels. He has retired 38 of his last 41 batters.

Oakland protested the game after Erick Aybar hit a short chopper up the first-base line to open the ninth. He ran into Dan Otero as the pitcher fielded it and bumped into first baseman Brandon Moss.

Home plate umpire Greg Gibson immediately awarded first base to Aybar, prompting a lengthy argument from A’s manager Bob Melvin. The Angels then loaded the bases with one out, but Kole Calhoun popped up and Mike Trout grounded to third against Cook.

Melvin thinks Aybar went out of the baseline and tried to hit the fielder.

“I thought they would overturn it, based on what we were seeing,” the manager said. “It was pretty evident.”

Angels manager Mike Scioscia disagreed, saying Aybar “had nowhere to go.”

Crew chief Gerry Davis said the obstruction ruling was a judgment call by Gibson. Judgment calls can’t be protested, according to Rule 4.19.

Sonny Gray pitched seven innings of six-hit ball for Oakland, but left without a decision for the first time in 11 starts.

C.J. Wilson yielded seven hits and blew a three-run lead while pitching into the sixth inning for the Angels.

Gordon Beckham had an early two-run single for the Angels, but Oakland closed to 3-2 in the fifth. Josh Donaldson led off the sixth with his 26th homer, but Angels reliever Mike Morin struck out pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt with the bases loaded to preserve the tie.

The A’s took two of three from the Angels at the Coliseum last week. The clubs also begin the final week of the regular season with a three-game series in Oakland.

“I think that’s our fourth extra-inning game here,” Otero said. “They’re a great ballclub, and we know we are, too, so it’s a battle every time out. They’re going to battle us to the end, and we know we’re going to give it all we’ve got.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: SS Jed Lowrie took live batting practice for the first time since breaking his right index finger.

Angels: Reliever Joe Thatcher’s sprained left ankle still isn’t ready for a rehab assignment.

UP NEXT

Athletics: Jon Lester (13-8, 2.53 ERA) held the Angels to five hits and a run over seven innings in a no-decision last weekend.

Angels: Jered Weaver (14-7, 3.72 ERA) looks to secure the fourth 15-win season of his career.

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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