Crossing party lines after the shooting that left four people injured, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, Democrat and Republican lawmakers still pushed through with the 57th Congressional Baseball Game Thursday at Nationals Park.

\The democrats emerged victorious, 11-2, but handed the Congressional baseball trophy to the Republicans, for it to be displayed in Scalise’s office until he recovers from bullet wounds he sustained one day before.

Republican team manager Joe Barton congratulated their Democratic counterparts as he received the trophy from Democrat manager Mike Doyle.

"We will put this in his office until he's back,” said Barton, referring to Scalise.

Sixty members of Congress from both parties knelt at second base in prayer for the four people wounded during a shooting that took place during the Republicans' final tune-up for the 57th Congressional Baseball Game.

While the lawmakers prayed, the record-crowd of 24,959 in attendance went silent. They chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A" when the prayer was over. Then, top leaders of the House and Senate -- Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer -- joined other lawmakers on the field to yell “Play Ball” to the crowd.

Republicans, Democrats unite through baseball

MLB News reported that Rep. Rodney Davis said, "Today, Republicans and Democrats come together for America's pastime, and we can show the world that we can work together." The Congressional Baseball Game is a tradition aimed at bringing both parties closer through baseball while raising funds for charities throughout the D.C.

region at the same time.

Special agent David Bailey, who was hit in the ankle as he charged the suspect, threw the ceremonial first pitch. The game ball was handed to him by MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre, who said baseball “bring everybody together" despite their difference in opinion. “That's what our country's about.

I'm glad we're here,” Torre said.

Scalise still in critical condition but doing better

Scalise is still in critical condition but is doing better, according to a statement from MedStar Washington Hospital Center where the congressman is currently confined. “He remains in critical condition but has improved in the last 24 hours,” the hospital said in a statement. The hospital said Scalise will undergo additional operations and “will be in the hospital for some time.”

The gunman, identified by authorities as James Hodgkinson, fired at Republican lawmakers using a rifle on Wednesday during their baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. The suspect died from gunshot wounds during a shootout with police.

The other injured include Bailey and fellow special agent Crystal Griner, a congressional aide and a lobbyist.
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