Lawmakers face each other in congressional baseball game
Pakinomist correspondent Chad Pergram previews the annual congressional baseball game, where Republican lawmakers aim to extend their five-year winning streak against Democrats. The report highlights the competitive spirit, challenges both teams face during early morning practices and the game’s significant fundraising efforts for DC nonprofits.
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I mentioned how humiliating baseball can be in yesterday’s article. I was definitely humbled last night. Humbled might not even be the right word – instead it should probably be incredibly frustrated. I was under 10.5 in the Royals and Padres game, and through nine innings exactly six runs were scored. Unfortunately there were three on each side, so it went to a 10th round. In the top of the 10th, three runs crossed the plate. That shot the total to 9, but I was still alive. In the bottom of the inning, the Royals scored four runs. A seven-run 10th inning and the game is over. About as brutal as it gets. Luckily I won on the reds, but that… was something. Let’s try to avoid that luck as the Rays take on the Red Sox.
Tampa Bay is one of the best teams in baseball, which isn’t too shocking when you consider their franchise as a whole. They are 56-40 for the season in sole possession of first place in the division. The Rays have been hot all year, but I would challenge almost any casual fan to name more than three players on the team. Junior Caminero is probably the most famous, partly because he is an All-Star and partly because he was almost injured in the All-Star Game.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero celebrates his solo home run off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson during the third inning of a baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla., on April 22, 2026. (Chris O’Meara/AP)
You may be familiar with some of the starting pitchers for the staff, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you weren’t. The Rays are a bit unconventional at times with their rotation and arms. Today they send out Ian Seymour to start the game, or maybe we should consider calling it opening the game? Seymour has 33 games and only six starts. It’s normal for a guy to get stretched out and move from the bullpen to the rotation, but some are better back in the bullpen, and it looks like that might be the case for him. As a starter, he has allowed teams to hit .242 against him compared to just .197 as a reliever. The encouraging sign for the Rays is that in 18 at-bats against him, the Red Sox have not recorded a hit and struck out seven times.
RED SOX HAD A NIGHTMARE TRAVEL DAY FOR THE AGES, BUT STILL FOUND A WAY TO BEAT THE METS IN NEW YORK
The Boston Red Sox looked like they were dead in the water just about a month ago. They were in last place in the division and looked like they were probably going to be sellers at the trade deadline. Maybe it was just a very bad start. Maybe this team is better than we expected. Or it’s possible this was just a hot stretch and they’ll end up falling back in the standings. A lot is still unclear, but the club is finally clicking and I know they are looking to ride that success for as long as possible.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 7: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates hitting a two-run home run during the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 7, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
The Red Sox send Patrick Sandoval to the mound today. This is just his second start of the season for the Red Sox, and he has no record with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He only has 4.1 innings under his belt, so I’d be very surprised to see him go deep in this game. It’s possible since yesterday was a doubleheader that they need Sandoval to eat innings even if he pitches poorly. Rays hitters have faced him 28 times, but 17 of those have come off Yandy Diaz, who is just 3-for-17 against him. The other three players who have seen Sandoval before are a combined 2-for-11.
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I think it could be a game where you see some runs from both teams. Neither starter is going to strike fear into their opponent, exactly. However, I will at least give them credit for showing success against their opponent in the limited exposure. I’m leaning over 9.5 for this game, but I think there is a better game out there.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Diaz, center, is congratulated on his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 9, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
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The Red Sox have won 11 games in a row, but I don’t see them getting to 12. Boston should be very happy that they got all the way back to .500, but Tampa Bay is a very good team, and I actually think Seymour is more reliable than Sandoval in just his second start. Combine that with the Red Sox winning both games yesterday and I think the Rays take this one. Give me Tampa Bay on the money line.
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