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Brewers' Vina Fractures Left Leg
By Ken Berger, AP Sports Writer
April 19, 1997
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Fernando Vina fractured his left leg sliding into second base Saturday and will be out two months.
Vina, who hit a grand slam and drove in five runs Friday night against the Cleveland Indians, led off Saturday's game with a sharp single to right. He stole second, but slid hard and late into the bag, jamming his left foot. Vina immediately grasped the ankle and rocked on his back in pain.
"He's a late slider," manager Phil Garner said. "That's a lot of force on the bag. But he's done it a couple of times and been OK with it."
Vina was carried off the field and taken to a hospital, where X-rays revealed a fractured fibula, team spokesman Jon Greenberg said. The injury will require surgery, which will keep Vina out of the lineup for two months, Greenberg said.
Garner speculated that a plate may have to be inserted into Vina's leg in surgery that could be done as early as Monday.
"He was our hottest hitter," said Garner, noting Vina's .321 average. "And he was a super defensive player. It's going to hurt us."
Vina has emerged as a potent leadoff hitter and the Brewers' emotional leader. He was lauded in Milwaukee and loathed in Cleveland for standing up to former-Indian Albert Belle in a baserunning incident last year.
Belle, now with the White Sox, hit Vina with a forearm between first and second in a game May 31, resulting in a two-game suspension and $ 25,000 fine.
"Fernando's a big part of our club," catcher Mike Matheny said. "He's been a spark for us recently. He was last season. He's held us together."
Vina was booed repeatedly at Jacobs Field last season following the Belle collision - even though it was Belle who plowed into Vina. He even heard a smattering of boos when he was announced in this series, and got revenge with Friday's grand slam.
Vina hit .283 with seven homers, 46 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 1996, his first year as Milwaukee's regular second baseman.
The Associated Press
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