WASHINGTON -- For the sixth year running, Democrats beat their Republican colleagues in the annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game for Charity.

Although Republicans had high hopes going into the game with their change in coaching staff, Democrats easily bested them 15-6 Wednesday evening at Nationals Park.

The Democrats held a strong lead even early on, scoring three runs in the first inning and then again in the second. The Republicans seemed poised to make a comeback, though, as they brought the score to 6-3 by the end of the third and began playing stronger defense.

A few critical errors by pitcher Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) in the fifth, combined with strong hits by Reps. Tim Ryan (Ohio) and Raul Ruiz (Calif.) for the Democrats, led to eight runs in one inning. Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) impressed the crowd as well, getting the audience on their feet to cheer for the only female player in the game and hitting a line drive to get on first. At the end of the fifth, the score was 14-4, dashing any hopes for a Republican victory.