Democrats thundered away at the plate and rode another commanding pitching performance by Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., to win the 53rd Congressional Baseball Game 15-6 on Wednesday evening.
The game, played at Nationals Park in Washington, was called in the top of the seventh inning because of thunder and lightning (it was only scheduled for seven innings anyway).
It was the sixth win in a row for the Democrats — last year they beat the Republicans 22-0. Democrats ended this year’s game with 12 hits and no errors, while the Republicans had nine hits and two errors.
Pitching was a problem for the Republicans. In the first inning, they walked the first three Democrats, then hit Rep. Patrick Murphy of Florida with a pitch for the Democrats’ first run.
The Republicans consistently intentionally walked Richmond, who played baseball while attending Morehouse College. Richmond also made a diving catch in the fourth inning, throwing to first for the third out to end a GOP rally.
In the third inning, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, drove in two runs with a double, but the Democrats put the game out of reach with an eight-run fifth inning.
Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., the only woman to play, came into the game late and drove in a run with a single.