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Cano has 4 RBIs in Mariners’ 10-2 win at Texas

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Robinson Cano is no stranger to playing in September games that matter.

Cano is having quite an impact in his first stretch run with wild card-contending Seattle, with his first four-RBI game for the Mariners putting them up big early on the way to a 10-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night.

“This is a game that really mattered for us. If we want to stay in the race, we’ve got to start early,” Cano said. “When they’re out of the race, you don’t want to play around with them.”

The Mariners, coming off consecutive one-run wins at AL wild card leader Oakland, stayed a half-game behind Detroit for the second wild card. Detroit won 11-4 in 11 innings at Cleveland.

“I thought it was important that they came out with a lot of energy, a lot of focus, and played up to their ability and not get caught up in a lot of different things,” Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said.

While long a forgone conclusion, the Rangers (53-87) became the first team in the majors eliminated from playoff contention after their sixth loss in a row. They went to their second consecutive World Series only three years ago.

Rookie left-hander Roenis Elias (10-12) allowed a run in five innings to become the fourth Seattle starter with at least 10 wins.

Cano had a two-run single in Seattle’s six-run outburst in the second against Robbie Ross (2-6), all with two outs. Cano’s two-out double an inning later, the first extra-base hit for the Mariners, drove in two more to make it 9-0.

In the first season of his $240 million, 10-year deal after leaving the Yankees in free agency, Cano is hitting .322 with 32 doubles, 13 home runs and 75 RBIs through 134 games. He had 23 games with at least four RBIs during his nine seasons in New York, and his career high is six.

Texas used six pitchers, including two more making their big league debuts to increase the Rangers’ major league record totals to 40 pitchers used and 63 players overall this season.

Chris Denorfia homered in the seventh, his first in 20 games with the Mariners since being acquired from San Diego at the end of July.

After throwing five no-hit innings in his previous start Saturday at Houston, Ross allowed an infield single to Austin Jackson leading off the game. But the Mariners didn’t score in the first, and the first two batters were out in the second before seven in a row reached to chase Ross.

“He just couldn’t execute a pitch to get out of that inning,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “He just couldn’t command the baseball.”

FOUR TIMES 10

It is the first time since 2003 that the Mariners have had at least four 10-game winners. Elias joined Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and Chris Young this season. Kansas City and the Los Angeles Angels are the only other American League teams with four 10-game winners.

BIT OF A HIGH PITCH

Texas RHP Lisalverto Bonilla is sure to remember his first major league pitch, one home plate umpire Vic Carapazza would rather forget. Bonilla’s first pitch bounced well in front of the plate and hit the ump in — well, a rather delicate spot. Carapazza took a few minutes to gather himself before the game resumed. That was to start the sixth, two innings after Spencer Patton also made his big league debut for the Rangers.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: McClendon said Young (12-7) will start Saturday night as scheduled. “The ball came out good. He’s healthy,” McClendon said Thursday, a day after Young’s regular bullpen session. There were questions about Young’s health, and possible fatigue, after he gave up eight runs and 11 hits in 4 1-3 innings his last two starts.

Rangers: Yu Darvish, who hasn’t pitched since Aug. 9 because of right elbow inflammation, was evaluated by team physician Dr. Keith Meister. The Rangers expect to have a report on their ace Friday. With only 3 1/2 weeks left, it is likely Darvish will not start another game this season. … C Robinson Chirinos (stiff neck), who missed his fourth game in a row, and RHP Miles Mikolas (right shoulder) both got injections. Chirinos is day to day and Mikolas will begin a throwing program when his symptoms dissipate.

UP NEXT

Iwakuma (13-6), who is 8-2 with a 2.35 ERA in his last 12 starts, starts for the Mariners in the second game of the four-game set.

Rangers scheduled starter Scott Baker (3-3) has won his last three appearances (first in relief and then two starts) after pitching in losses in each of his first 20 outings for Texas.

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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