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Hicks, Twins rally in 9th to beat Tigers 4-3

By WTOP Staff

JESS MYERS
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aaron Hicks and the Minnesota Twins want to do more than just play out the string. That was certainly evident Tuesday night.

Hicks beat the throw on a two-out bouncer up the middle in the ninth inning, allowing pinch-runner Chris Herrmann to score and rally the Twins to a 4-3 victory over the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers.

“It’s so emotional. Everything is so emotional. These guys are fighting to win a pennant. We’re fighting to try to win a ballgame. Big three-run homer by them. Our guys kept coming back and they win it,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said after his team snapped the Tigers’ four-game winning streak.

“It’s just an emotional time right now. There are a lot of emotions in the dugout and I’m proud of these guys. They’re getting after it. They’re fighting.”

After J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer to give Detroit a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Trevor Plouffe drew a one-out walk against Joe Nathan (4-4) and was replaced by pinch-runner Doug Bernier.

Bernier scored when center fielder Ezequiel Carrera dived for a line drive off the bat of Kurt Suzuki and missed it, allowing the ball to roll to the wall.

Herrmann ran for Suzuki and scored when Hicks battled Nathan to full count and beat out a bouncer fielded by shortstop Andrew Romine near second base.

“I was a little worried about the ball getting past Joe Nathan, and after that it’s a race between me and the guy throwing the ball to first base and me trying to get to first base safely,” Hicks said. “It definitely feels good for me, and not just me but for everybody to come back and get that win.”

After Martinez’s homer off Glen Perkins (4-3), it looked as if the Tigers had another big ninth-inning win as they try to maintain a slim lead over the second-place Royals in the AL Central.

Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera hit back-to-back homers in the ninth to rally the Tigers to a win in Monday’s series opener.

Minnesota rookie slugger Kennys Vargas was a double shy of the cycle and hit a home run in the sixth that made it 2-0.

Twins starter Ricky Nolasco, who hasn’t won since July 1, held the Tigers scoreless over eight innings and only allowed two runners to reach second base, but finished with another no-decision.

“Nolasco was solid,” Gardenhire said. “That’s two times in a row with what we are hoping for, and he just pitched his tail off. That’s just great stuff. He deserved a win and didn’t get it, but we got a win, which is very important.”

Detroit starter Rick Porcello struck out five and allowed two runs in eight innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: C Alex Avila became lightheaded during a pregame workout and missed his second straight game with concussion-like symptoms. He remains day to day. … 3B Nick Castellanos was scratched from the lineup about an hour before the first pitch with left foot soreness. Don Kelly moved to third and Rajai Davis took over in center field. … Anibal Sanchez (strained muscle) hopes to throw another bullpen session before pitching in a simulated game. He could pitch out of the bullpen when he returns.

Twins: SS Eduardo Escobar left in the fourth after jamming his right shoulder diving for Hunter’s grounder. … OF Oswaldo Arcia told Gardenhire he could play, but the manager gave Arcia the night off with a strained back.

UP NEXT

David Price (14-11, 3.26 ERA) has lasted at least seven innings in six of his eight starts since being traded to the Tigers. He faces Kyle Gibson (11-11, 4.58) in Wednesday’s series finale.

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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