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Flores homers twice in Mets 9-1 win over Marlins

By WTOP Staff

HOWIE RUMBERG
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets told Wilmer Flores the starting shortstop job is open next year, and the young infielder might just win the job with his bat.

Flores homered twice and drove in six runs for the second time this year, Ruben Tejada capped a four-run fourth inning with a two-run double, and the Mets routed the Miami Marlins 9-1 on Tuesday night to end a three-game skid.

“I think what he’s done offensively has helped him defensively,” manager Terry Collins said of Flores, who has been knocked for his play in the field.

Just hours after Commissioner Bud Selig said he was impressed with the manner in which the Mets were rebuilding, the 23-year-old Flores hit a three-run shot in the fifth and a two-run drive in the seventh — both off reliever Brad Penny.

He also had an RBI double in the fourth as the Mets scored their most runs at home since they tallied 11 against the Phillies on July 30. After slowly developing the power stroke the organization thinks he is capable of providing, Flores is 8 for 15 with three homers and 10 RBIs in his last four games. He has six long balls overall.

“Maybe it takes a little more time for some people,” Flores said about finding his swing against big leaguers. “I’m seeing the ball well right now.”

Bartolo Colon (14-12) bounced back from his shortest outing of the year to pitch 7 2-3 innings for New York, allowing one run and a season-high 12 hits. The only extra-base hit was a double to Reed Johnson, who had three hits. He struck out seven without a walk.

“I was able to execute at the right moment to get out of the big inning,” the always smiling Colon said through a translator.

The Mets and Marlins each have 73 wins in the competition for third place in the NL East. New York has two more losses with 10 games to play. Miami, which outhit the Mets 13-12, has 12 games remaining.

The Mets must go 8-2 to avoid their sixth straight losing season.

Curtis Granderson had an RBI single among his three hits, and the Mets handed Nathan Eovaldi (6-12) his sixth straight losing decision over seven starts, dating to Aug. 13. Eovaldi yielded six runs and six hits over 4 1-3 innings.

Flores connected off Penny two batters after Eovaldi was pulled in the fifth. Flores also had six RBIs on June 2 at Philadelphia.

“He’s in a career record for innings, so maybe he could be running out of gas. I don’t know. The ball seems to still be coming out of his hands. He’s just making mistakes,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said of Eovaldi. “He’s making mistakes and they’re making him pay.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton was undergoing tests in Miami to determine if he will be able to play again this year. He was hit in the face by a pitch on Thursday and sustained facial fractures, cuts and dental damage. He posted gruesome photos on his Instagram account Tuesday, showing how much he has healed in the five days. The first photo was taken hours after he was beaned. “We’ll have an official statement tomorrow, but it’s probably not looking good for him,” Redmond said after the game.

Mets: CF Juan Lagares left the game because of a hyperextended right elbow before the fifth inning, and he said the elbow was sore. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday. … RHP Matt Harvey (elbow surgery) felt great a day after his simulated game thrown from the Citi Field mound. “It was a bright, bright spot for us, knowing he is going to be a hundred percent,” Collins said.

UP NEXT

Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (10-6) goes for his fifth career win vs. the Mets. New York RHP Dillon Gee (7-7), however is undefeated in five starts against Miami (3-0, 2.30 ERA).

NOISY NEW YORK

Redmond and Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart weren’t too happy with the sounds coming from the street outside the team’s midtown hotel. “Thanks New York construction for beginning your jack hammering at 730 am. Im sure everyone appreciates it. #Nofeel #cleanitup,” Cosart tweeted. Redmond said he could hear the work from his room on the 40th floor.

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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