Ben Chandler, D-KY., scores a run during the Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park in Washington Credit: Douglas Graham/Roll Call

WASHINGTON — Democrats’ fortunes have shifted from the electoral sweep on Capitol Hill and the White House to the baseball diamond.

For the first time since 2000, Democratic members of Congress beat the Republican team in the 48th Annual Congressional Baseball Game, reported by Roll Call, which sponsors the contest.

The Dems went on to win 15-10 after starting GOP pitcher, Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, coughed up an early lead, giving up six runs in the second inning.

The GOP clawed back in the top of the third to tie it at six and manager Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, pulled Shimkus to start the bottom of the third.

That was all she wrote.

The next pitcher, Florida Rep. Adam Putnam, gave up nine runs. Despite a return by Shimkus and a three-run rally by Republicans in the seventh, the Democrats took their first on-field win in nearly a decade.

Whether he was truly prophetic or not, Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis, predicted a Democrat win earlier yesterday during a Post-Dispatch interview.