Judith Franco of Montgomery Village quickly became an Orioles fan on April 13 when she won $6,500 as the Contestant of the Game.
With the bases loaded and a crack of the bat, Montgomery Village resident Judith Franco became a die-hard baseball fan and just a bit richer. The 49-year-old told Lottery officials that normally she’d be more likely to follow professional hockey or basketball – that is, until April 13 when she was the Lottery’s Home Run Riches Contestant of the Game! A pair of home runs and a grand slam hit that night won Franco a $6,500 second-chance payout.
Franco won her spot as the Contestant of the Game through the Lottery’s 2026 Contestant of the Game second-chance promotion by entering some of her FAST PLAY Home Run Riches Walk-Off Winnings tickets and being selected in the promotion’s first drawing.
Franco’s Orioles magic moment came courtesy of Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson late in the game. The Orioles were losing to the Diamondbacks going into the sixth inning when Jackson hit a deep fly ball to left field with the bases loaded to score the Orioles first Grand Slam of 2026. An exciting moment for both the Orioles and Franco. That hit provided Franco with $5,000 and gave the Orioles the needed momentum to help win the game.
“I know all about Jeremiah Jackson now. He’s a new favorite. And it’s safe to say that I’ll be watching the rest of the games this season,” said Franco.
She said the $6,500 payday was her first second-chance prize and her largest win to date. According to Franco, the funds will be used to take care of family. She plans to help her son with a car purchase.
Each Contestant of the Game wins $500 for being selected, along with $500 for each home run and $5,000 for each grand slam hit by an Orioles player during their designated game.
Lottery players entering the Contestant of the Game promotion can also to opt in for the chance to win a VIP Game Day Experience prize. The VIP Game Day Experience includes $2,000 prize for being selected in addition to the prizes for any home runs or grand slams the Orioles hit in their designated game. They will also get a parking pass and four tickets in the Truist Club section behind home plate, premium Club access during the game including food and beverages, an interview with MASN All Access, and the opportunity to watch pre-game batting practice from the field.
Drawings for the promotion’s VIP Game Day Experience and Contestants of the Game for other dates will take place monthly. The next chance to be selected is April 21. Lottery players must enter each drawing separately. Each entry is valid only for the next available drawing and will not carry over into the following drawings.
FAST PLAY Home Run Riches Walk-Off Winnings tickets are available at all Maryland Lottery retailers, from either the clerk-operated terminals at the register or the self-service vending machines. The game features a progressive jackpot that starts at $40,000 and grows with each ticket sold until a jackpot-winning ticket is purchased. There are also thousands of additional instant-win prizes ranging from $5 to $5,000.
