On the diamond and under the dome.

If life imitates art, then the Congressional Baseball Game imitates Capitol Hill.

In the House and Senate chambers, Democrats sit on one side, Republicans on the other. At the Congressional Baseball Game, Democrats occupy the third base dugout, while Republicans take up residence in the first base dugout.

The teams compete fiercely, with the goal of winning political points.

The annual baseball game at Nats Park, held under the Capitol Dome, is a symbol of what happens daily in Congress. For one night a year, lawmakers step outside, under the lights, and wear cleats. They don New York Mets and University of Texas at San Antonio jerseys. Even during this game, lawmakers encounter protesters, just like they do in the halls of Congress.

The demonstrators who don't surface in the Cannon Rotunda vault a fence near the left field foul pole and are tackled in the grass by U.S. Capitol Police, similar to what sometimes goes down in Congress.

Minus the left field foul pole.

Congress frequently faces criticism for being ineffective despite being active.

A single play encapsulated this on the field Wednesday night.

In the seventh inning of a seven-inning game, the Democrats were threatening to tighten the score as they had the bases loaded, despite the Republicans leading 21-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Unlike in a Major League Baseball game, there are significantly more wild pitches and passed balls.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., pitched for Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, the Republican skipper and former Atlanta Braves farmhand. However, Williams later substituted Steube with Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, in relief.

Pfluger is the GOP's "fireman" with a microscopic 1.11 ERA, similar to Bob Gibson's 1.12 ERA when he won the Cy Young Award in 1968.

In the bottom of the sixth, a breaking ball from Pfluger was released from the mitt of Republican catcher Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, resulting in a passed ball. The runners did not advance as Pfluger charged in to cover the plate.

But baserunning — and congressional hijinks — ensued a couple of pitches later.

In the batting order, Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., was at bat, with Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., on first, Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-N.Y., on second, and Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., occupying third.

Lutrell caught a wild pitch that went all the way to brick backstop. The ball caromed across the grass in foul territory.

Goldman waved Barragan home as Barragan creeped halfway down the line.

Pfluger raced to cover the plate as Lutrell tossed the ball to him. It would be a no-no for Nanette to score on this one. The California Democrat retreated to the third base bag.

But that’s where trouble started.

Kennedy is a freshman and a rookie in both Capitol Hill and congressional terms, having recently been called up to Congress from Buffalo.

Kennedy was on third base, trying to hustle back to safety, when he realized there were about to be two runners on the base. A conference committee was about to be formed, and Kennedy had to reverse course quickly. He did so faster than a member halfway to Reagan National Airport on a congressional getaway day when the House called an unexpected vote. Pfluger fired down to second, getting Kennedy in a rundown and the most press he had ever garnered in his young congressional career. Now, Kennedy is trapped. He can't head back to second because Pat Ryan, the runner on first, is legging it toward second.

To aid Kennedy, Ryan proposes a motion to return to first base as the Republicans toss the ball away. Despite the GOP's efforts to trap him, Kennedy manages to evade.

And just like on Capitol Hill, you sometimes get a second chance.

Barragan scored due to Kennedy's baseline filibuster, and Kennedy advanced safely to third.

The Bad News Bears' recent performance made them appear like the 1975 Cincinnati Reds.

After the errant throw in the Kennedy rundown, Ryan was now running again toward second base.

Most strange things in Congress seem to emerge "from left field."

But, on this night, it came from right field.

Jake Ellzey, a Republican representative from Texas, probably deserves the most outstanding performance of the game.

Ellzey sprinted directly at Ryan after fielding the wayward throw from Kennedy between second and third.

The New York Democrat was torn between first and second place in the third strange turn of events. Ellzey gripped the ball tightly in his right hand, reaching out to tag Ryan directly with it.

Ryan was out.

Ryan, a West Point graduate, wore a Golden Knights jersey during the game, while Ellzey, a Naval Academy graduate, flew fighter missions.

Ryan's defeat in the footrace against Ellzey was a defining moment in the "Go Navy, beat Army" rivalry.

Despite all the action, only one run and one out were scored.

As is often the case in Congress, there are mistakes on both sides, with a lot of activity but little to show for it, despite the Democrats' narrow victory.

The play ended the bottom of the sixth inning in the seven-ining affair.

The Democrats lost 10 points to the Republicans in the seventh inning, resulting in a final score of 31-11.

"House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, boasted about the "biggest margin of victory since 1909" and used it as an "omen about the election cycle," indicating that he hopes to see more of the same in November."

The Democrats must delve into their farm system for some pitching.

Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., stated that there are opportunities for additional talent out there. He added that the Democrats made the game competitive and established a foundation for their great comeback in 2025.

This fall, Republicans are hoping for significant triumphs.

Democrats looking to reclaim control of the House.

No different under the Dome. Or on the diamond.