BEIJING -- The United States and Cuba are political adversaries and fierce baseball rivals, so the preliminary-round game between the teams had the feel of a gold-medal showdown. Cuba needed nearly four hours, 11 innings, and a new tiebreaker rule to shake off the Americans, 5-4. Afterward, U.S. manager Davey Johnson accused Cuban relief pitcher Pedro Lazo of intentionally throwing at Jayson Nix's head when Nix was attempting to bunt in the bottom of the 11th inning. The ball fouled off Nix's eye, and he was taken to the hospital for treatment. Dr. William Kuprevich, chief medical officer of the U.S. Olympic Team, announced that Nix will not return to play during the Games. "I lost my second baseman when the pitcher threw the ball at his head, and I don't see any place for that in baseball," Johnson said. "I respect the way...
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