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Braves get blanked again in 4-0 loss to Marlins

By WTOP Staff

MIAMI (AP) — Julio Teheran was having another fine outing against the Miami Marlins until the middle innings rolled around.

Miami got to Teheran for one run in the fifth and three more in the sixth on the way to a 4-0 victory Sunday over the slumping Atlanta Braves, who managed only five hits.

“I thought the game was right there and the opportunity to get back in it and to go ahead, but we didn’t,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Teheran (13-11) allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.

In a tight race for the second NL wild card, the Braves have lost four of five. They were shut out for the fourth time in their last eight games.

“Teheran just gave up four runs and on most nights he’s got a chance to win that game,” Gonzalez said.

Brad Hand (3-6) gave up five hits and struck out three in six sharp innings. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had two RBIs, and Donovan Solano and Marcell Ozuna each drove in a run for the Marlins, who took two of three from Atlanta and won the season series 10-9.

“We just needed to win a series,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “We’ve come out strong that first game for whatever reason and to win a series against a great team and a team that we’ve had really some great battles against all year (is great).”

Chris Hatcher, Mike Dunn and A.J. Ramos combined to pitch the final three innings for the Marlins.

“Teheran is a great pitcher,” Hand said. “He doesn’t give up very many runs, so we got that one and I just wanted to go out there and keep the lead.”

Hand retired his first 11 batters before Freddie Freeman’s two-out single in the fourth. He calmly pitched out of jams in the fourth and sixth by retiring Evan Gattis both times.

“We had second and third there and in a situation (in the sixth) where we had our best hitters up, and (Hand) pitched out of it,” Gonzalez said.

Teheran set down 13 in a row before Garrett Jones doubled in the fifth. Saltalamacchia followed with an RBI single to left field, giving Miami a 1-0 lead.

“It looked like early that that was going to be a real pitchers’ battle. Especially a day game, it looked like there were some tired guys out there,” Redmond said.

But then the Marlins were able to get to Teheran, who entered 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA in seven starts against Miami. He gave up four hits in the sixth, including an RBI single by Solano and an RBI double by Ozuna. The right-hander exited with the Braves trailing 3-0.

“I think they made adjustments on the way I was pitching today,” Teheran said. “I think later on in the game they were right on my fastball.”

Saltalamacchia added a sacrifice fly.

ANGRY YOUNG MAN

Teheran slammed down his glove in the dugout after he was pulled.

“He competes,” Gonzalez said. “He doesn’t want to come out of games and I don’t blame him. I don’t want anybody to come out of games. He’s got to keep pitching the way he pitches and hopefully we can start swinging the bats.”

UP NEXT

Atlanta begins a three-game series at Washington on Monday, with LHP Mike Minor (6-9, 4.65 ERA) on the mound against RHP Doug Fister (12-6, 2.66).

The Marlins travel to Milwaukee for a four-game set beginning Monday. RHP Brad Penny (1-1, 6.61 ERA) starts for Miami against RHP Yovani Gallardo (8-8, 3.43).

HAND AT HOME

Hand is 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA in his last four home starts. He is 1-2 with a 5.16 ERA in his past four road starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez (left oblique strain) threw a bullpen before the game and did not feel any discomfort. The team hopes he can rejoin the rotation this week.

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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