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Recker hits 3-run HR, Mets hold off Phillies 6-5

By WTOP Staff

SCOTT ORGERA
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets starter Dillon Gee called it the hottest game he’s pitched in all year. And on a muggy afternoon at Citi Field, a boost from the bench was just what New York needed to cool off the Phillies.

Anthony Recker snapped a sixth-inning tie with a three-run homer in a rare start, and the Mets held off Philadelphia 6-5 Sunday to avoid dropping into last place.

“Anytime you get a chance to play, you just want to contribute,” Recker said. “We’ve got a few guys on the bench that haven’t been seeing a lot of time, so when we get our chance we really want to be able to do our part.”

Wilmer Flores had three hits and made two sparkling defensive plays at shortstop in the final two innings to help New York hang on. By taking two of three in the series, the Mets kept Philadelphia in the NL East cellar.

Gee (6-6) pitched effectively into the seventh inning, and New York finished 13-6 against the Phillies this season.

Domonic Brown homered and had a career-high four hits for Philadelphia, which had won seven of nine. He grounded out with a runner on to end it.

Ryan Howard also went deep for the Phillies.

Recker, a backup catcher who had not played since Aug. 19 in Oakland, lined the first pitch he saw from A.J. Burnett in the sixth into the left-field seats to give the Mets a 5-2 lead. The home run was only his third hit since the All-Star break.

“That’s how you win games, period,” New York manager Terry Collins said about the contributions from Recker and reserve outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, among others. “It just makes a huge difference and it takes a lot of heat off the guys who every day get worn down. Once in a while fresh blood in the lineup can lift you up. Today it did.”

Burnett (7-15), who has struggled mightily this season against the team that drafted him, looked sharp early on but ended up allowing five runs and nine hits over six inconsistent innings.

Gee dodged trouble all afternoon, stranding a runner at third three times against a club that’s hit him hard most of his career.

With the bases loaded in the fourth, Wil Nieves grounded into a double play started by Flores. Ben Revere was left at third when Jimmy Rollins struck out in the fifth. And in the sixth, Gee struck out Nieves with runners at the corners before Cody Asche flied out to deep right-center.

“That’s what Dillon Gee does. He hangs in there,” Collins said. “He keeps you in the game.”

Brown drove Jeurys Familia’s third pitch just over the left-center fence leading off the eighth to pull the Phillies to 5-4.

Mets rookie Dilson Herrera, who made his major league debut Friday night, added an important insurance run in the bottom half with his first career RBI, driving in Nieuwenhuis with a single.

Philadelphia put its first two hitters on in the ninth before Herrera and Flores turned a tough double play against Howard. Grady Sizemore had an RBI single, then Jenrry Mejia retired Brown for his 21st save.

Flores also helped Familia with a diving play on Revere’s hard-hit grounder to end the eighth.

Howard hit a solo shot in the sixth, reaching 20 home runs for the eighth time and first since 2011. He has seven career homers against Gee.

COOL KEEPSAKE

Herrera, who got his first major league hit Saturday night, said he plans to send the souvenir ball to his parents. “I’m going to send it to my mom and dad because I’m really happy for them,” he said through a translator. “It’s a pleasure to give them the ball.”

HALL OF FAME COMPANY

Rollins’ RBI single in the seventh gave him 657 multihit games, tying Richie Ashburn for the franchise record. “I had no idea. That’s cool, though,” the veteran shortstop said. “I’ve heard a lot about Richie. To do that is another cool feat along the way.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: OF-1B John Mayberry Jr. (left wrist inflammation) arrived in the clubhouse a few hours before the game. He was scheduled to fly with the team to Atlanta afterward, and was expected to be activated from the disabled list for Monday’s game against the Braves. But on Sunday night, the Phillies traded Mayberry to Toronto for minor league infielder Gustavo Pierre.

Mets: LHP Josh Edgin (elbow) is still experiencing significant soreness and will see a doctor again this week, according to Collins. … RF Curtis Granderson was not in the lineup after going 0 for 4 Saturday on his bobblehead night and striking out with the bases loaded in the seventh. Collins said he thought it was an ideal opportunity to give Granderson a rest.

UP NEXT

Phillies: LHP Cole Hamels (7-6, 2.59 ERA) faces 13-game winner Julio Teheran on Monday afternoon in Atlanta.

Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler (9-9, 3.44) is on the mound Monday for the opener of a three-game series at third-place Miami. Wheeler is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins. He had his six-game winning streak snapped Wednesday by Atlanta despite his 19th quality start of the season.

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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