Democrats Beat GOP With Late Rally in Congressional Baseball Game
Updated: June 30, 11:14 a.m.
A late rally propelled Democrats past Republicans 13-5 at Tuesday’s 49th Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park.
With the score tied 4-4 after six innings, Rep. Anthony Weiner (N.Y.) scored the go-ahead run for the Democrats when Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) misplayed a pickoff attempt by the GOP catcher, Rep. Todd Platts (Pa.). By the time GOP pitcher Rep. John Shimkus (Ill.) retired the side, Democrats were up 13-4, after run-scoring hits by Reps. John Boccieri (Ohio), Jared Polis (Colo.), Bart Stupak (Mich.), Adam Smith (Wash.) and Steve Driehaus (Ohio).
Republicans attempted to battle back in the bottom half of the last inning, loading the bases, but scored just one run before Rep. Sam Graves (Mo.) struck out to end the game.
After retiring the Democrats’ first three batters, Republicans took the lead in the first inning on Texas Rep. Kevin Brady’s single to left, scoring Flake from second base.
With a single to left-center field, retiring Rep. Brian Baird (Wash.) got things started in the second inning for the Democrats. But Baird was later caught trying to return to first base after Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) snagged a well-hit ball by Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.) to right field. Shimkus later fanned Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) to end the inning.
Democrats tied it in the third inning, getting on the scoreboard when pinch runner Patrick Murphy (Pa.) scored from third on a wild pitch by Shimkus. An inning later, the majority party went up 3-1 on a deep fly ball by Rep. Jay Inslee (Wash.) that was misplayed by Rep. Erik Paulsen (Minn.).
Democrats went into the sixth inning with a 4-1 lead. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) hit an RBI single to make it 4-2, later scoring on a single to right by Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.), who was a surprise late addition to the roster. It was likely Barrett’s last swing in the annual contest after recently losing the Palmetto State’s GOP gubernatorial primary runoff to state legislator Nikki Haley.
Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) and Shimkus both pitched complete games for their squads, but the Republican defense committed eight errors, while the Democrats made only four.