Miracle on Grass

by David Fanucchi

But the incidents didn’t end there. With Cuba leading 5-0 in the bottom of the eighth, they had pinch-runner Yobal Duenas at second base. When he rounded third and headed for home on a base hit, he came in sliding spikes-high on Team USA catcher Pat Borders as he awaited the throw. Borders went down writhing in pain, as the nasty slide had been one last message from the Cubans that this wasn’t over. Borders had to be helped off the field by Team USA medical personnel after the collision, and although X-rays taken after the game were negative, Borders’ left ankle had swollen up to the size of a grapefruit. “When I saw the collision happen, I thought Pat had broken his ankle,” said Dr. Dicke. “So when the X-rays said there wasn’t a fracture, I knew it had to be a bad strain, which it was. And I was very doubtful that he was going to be able to come back and play at the level that was needed for the medal round.”