Green Jr. balcony blast launches Locos to series-opening win

LANSING, Mich. – Steven Echavarria struck out five batters in a career-best 6 2/3 innings of work and Rodney Green Jr. hit a go-ahead 490-foot blast to give the Lansing Locos (14-20) a 7-4 series-opening win against the Quad Cities River Bandits (16-15) at JacksonⓇ Field™ on Tuesday night.

The guys were excited. WHAT A SWING!!

One of the longest home runs in Jackson Field history. #GoNuts | #LoveLansing pic.twitter.com/Cv9GniYBf9

— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) May 13, 2026

Lansing and Quad Cities met for the second time this season after the River Bandits defended their home field back in late April, winning four of the six games played in the earlier series.

For the rematch, manager Javier Godard mentioned a piece of the game the team wanted to do better this time around. “Just work ahead and fill up the zone… so you can land your breaking balls,” Godard said. "They're a team that they're known for running and bunting, and if we walk guys or get guys on base… we're giving opportunity to them to get something going. So if we just get the first out of the inning, it takes everything away pretty much.”

With the River Bandits leading 4-3, one out, and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Carlos Franco hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game at 4-4.

Green Jr. followed by with a smash to right center field, bouncing the ball off of a second-floor balcony of the Outfield Loft apartments, giving Lansing the lead for good. It was his third home run of the season, but his first since Opening Day. It was also the longest tracked home run in Minor League Baseball or Major League Baseball this season.

“ I didn't see anything but lights going off after that one,” Green Jr. said. "It was definitely one that I didn't feel."

Steven Echavarria fired 6 2/3 innings on 90 pitches tonight against Quad Cities' prospect-packed lineup, setting a new career high. pic.twitter.com/2x6FxH8cSo

— Jesse Goldberg-Strassler (@jgoldstrass) May 13, 2026

Lansing starter Echavarria and Quad Cities starter David Shields set the tone early. But after three scoreless innings, the Locos broke the tie on the scoreboard. A Devin Taylor single and a walk for newcomer Myles Naylor set up Nate Nankil for a two-run double down the left-field line, giving Lansing a 2-0 lead.

Echavarria said that going so far into the game meant a lot for him after the outing he had last week against the South Bend Cubs. In that game, Echavarria pitched three innings, giving up seven hits and eight runs (seven earned).

“Last week was a pretty rough one,” Echavarria said. “Just kind of was going through the motions a little bit, and then coming out here (tonight) with a different focus, a different kind of feel just going out there and finding a tempo and really just grinding through these innings and getting out of them quick was what I need to keep doing moving forward in my career.”

“He (Echavarria) worked ahead most importantly, and he was aggressive, and he was landing his breaking ball today and keeping at-bats (to a) short amount of pitches, so that's hopefully what we look for for (his) the next outing,” Godard said.

Echavarria departed the game two outs into the seventh inning due to pitch count, and Quad Cities tied the game at 2-2 on a Jose Cerice RBI single off of reliever Tucker Novotny.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Locos catcher Carlos Franco reached base with a walk, went from first to third on a single from Casey Yamauchiand scored on a sacrifice fly from Justin Riemer to give Lansing a 3-2 lead.

The River Bandits struck again in the top of the eighth on RBI singles from Ramon Ramirez and Luke Pelzer to make it 4-3, setting up the need for a Locos’ rally.

Novotny pitched one inning, giving up one hit, one run and two walks while tallying one strikeout. Ryan Brown pitched ⅓ of an inning before Abel Mercedes came in and finished the game off, earning a save. Brown was given the win, his second of the season.

Lansing takes on Quad Cities tomorrow with Samuel Dutton on the mound as the ballpark hosts Grand Slam School Day. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. at JacksonⓇ Field™. For tickets and more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit www.milb.com/lansing.

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