Democrats and Republicans show unity on ballfield to honor wounded colleague

Aguilar plays outfield for the Democratic team; before the shooting, Scalise was slated to play second base for the Republicans.

And even as the fans rose as one to cheer Scalise's name and the Capitol Police, there was no mistaking the lusty cheers for their own side as the game progressed.

Members of the Republican team pray before the Democrats and Republicans face off in the annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park in Washington, U.S., June 15, 2017. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's play ball".

President Trump delivered a videotaped statement, saying the playing game this year is evidence that "we will not be intimidated. the game will go on". On Thursday night, almost 25,000 were in attendance at Nationals Park, the stadium of the Washington Nationals. Republicans and Democrats have gotten together to talk about the need for unity, for calmer voices, for debate not driven by outrageous rhetoric.

"While the president would like to attend the game and show his support for all of these courageous public servants, he has been advised that there is not enough time to follow Secret Service protocols", Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said Wednesday night. The gunman died from injuries sustained in a shootout with police. The lawmakers kneeled in prayer on the field before the game got underway. And there was a moment of silence for the victims of Wednesday's shootings.

More than 20,000 tickets had been sold for the game and it was on track to raise more than $1m, roughly double what it did previous year, for charities, its organisers said.

"I've had threats, and most members I know have had threats", the Louisiana Democrat said.

One of the Capitol Police officers injured in Wednesday's shooting has thrown out the first pitch at the congressional baseball game - to thunderous applause.

In the end, the Democrats won the game 11-2.

A congressional staffer, Zach Barth, was also shot in the leg and has since been released from the hospital.

One of those who helped the team to victory was Sen.

Several members of the Trump administration were spotted in the stands, including the president's daughter Ivanka Trump, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, White House economic adviser Gary Cohn and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. He was batted in by Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.

Players wore the uniforms of local teams. For Murphy, it was the Yard Goats.

"Tonight, we're all team Scalise", said top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi, wearing purple and yellow in honor of Scalise's home state of Louisiana.

Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) came in for the GOP for some mop-up time and proceeded to shut down the Democrats for the remaining inning.

The deciding factor will probably be Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., who may be the best to have ever played in the game. "And that camaraderie, I think, will be very positive as we go forward", Pelosi said at a press conference on Thursday. "But for the grace of God, it could have happened at the Democratic practice". Chris Murphy said. "No other industrialized country averages a mass shooting every single day". "We hope", he said.

The game dates to 1909 and is a summertime tradition on Capitol Hill.

It is among America's last non-partisan political sanctuaries, a field of dreams where policy feuding is put aside - if only for a night, but this year's Congressional Baseball Game had a deeper significance.

"The challenge now is to see if we can confine it so it does not spill into hatred".