Republican lawmakers continued their dominance in the Congressional Baseball Game on Wednesday, securing their fifth consecutive victory with a 13-2 win over the Democrats at Nationals Park. The game, which serves as a bipartisan fundraising event for charitable causes, saw the GOP outperform their Democratic counterparts, extending a streak of dominance that began with a 13-12 win in 2021 after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., was the standout pitcher for the GOP, delivering five innings of quality work that allowed the team to maintain control of the game. He surrendered only two runs while striking out seven batters, showcasing his effectiveness on the mound. The game’s most memorable moment came in the first inning when Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, made a viral diving catch at third base to end a potential inning. The play, which involved Pfluger leaning out to stop a hard-hit ball and then diving onto the base with his mitt to get the out, drew widespread attention on social media and demonstrated the level of intensity and skill present on the field.
Democrats faced a significant challenge throughout the game, with Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., taking the loss for his team with a subpar performance. He allowed 13 runs over six innings, underscoring the GOP’s overwhelming dominance. Republicans capitalized on early opportunities, scoring their first run in the second inning on a defensive error by the Democratic team. This gave the GOP a 1-0 lead, and they further extended their advantage with a 5-0 lead by the third inning. However, the game remained competitive for a time, as Democrats closed the deficit to 5-2 before the GOP took command in the fourth inning with a five-run rally. This surge pushed the score to 10-2, putting the game well out of reach. The GOP added two more runs in the sixth inning, sealing the final score of 13-2.
Several notable moments highlighted the game’s significance beyond the scoreboard. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., broke out the Trump dance in the fifth inning when a two-run double helped extend the GOP’s lead. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, made history as the first woman to play in the Congressional Baseball Game, becoming a pinch runner and later scoring to add to the final margin. The game’s results also reflected the broader political climate, as Republicans have now won the last five editions of the event, with four of those victories being blowouts. Prior to the GOP’s dominance, Democrats had held the upper hand in 10 of the previous 11 games. This year’s edition also set a record for charity fundraising, raising $2.75 million for various organizations, reinforcing the event’s importance as both a political and philanthropic spectacle.