Eric Schmitt helps Republicans win 11-2 at Congressional Baseball Game
eric schmitt helped Republicans build an early lead Wednesday night and the GOP went on to beat Democrats 11-2 in the Congressional Baseball Game. The win gave Republicans their sixth straight victory in the annual charity event and extended a run in which they have not lost this decade.
Schmitt’s speedy baserunning helped put a run on the board in the first inning, and he later made a diving catch that left him with a bloody face. Republicans had already pushed their advantage to 11-0 by the end of the fourth inning before Democrats scored twice.
Greg Steube and Chris Deluzio
Republican starting pitcher Greg Steube held Democratic bats at bay through the first two innings. Chris Deluzio then allowed the GOP to add two more runs in the second after a wild throw on a routine groundball.
By the fourth inning, the game had tilted heavily toward Republicans. Morgan McGarvey reached on a ground-rule double in the bottom of the frame and was thrown out at the plate, then Dave Min drove in two runs on an RBI base hit to put Democrats on the board.
Congressional Sports for Charity
The game raised more than $3.2 million for Congressional Sports for Charity, which supports D.C.-area nonprofits and scholarships. The event had already broken both fundraising and ticket sale records before the gates opened, adding another layer to a game that has become as much about money as the final score.
Both teams wore matching uniforms for the first time in recent memory, a change that fit the night’s broader theme of a one-game matchup built around a charity cause. For readers following the event beyond the scoreboard, the practical takeaway is the money: ticket sales and donations from the game will go to Congressional Sports for Charity’s nonprofit and scholarship work in the Washington area.
Linda T. Sánchez
Democratic coach Linda T. Sánchez joked before the game, “We’re out for blood this year,” but the early innings belonged to Republicans. Fans responded to successful plays with “U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.” as the GOP kept control from the first inning onward.
