Astros Valdez Denies Intentional Catcher Hit After Grand Slam vs Yankees

During the Houston Astros' 7-1 loss to the New York Yankees, pitcher Framber Valdez hit his own catcher, César Salazar, with a pitch in a tense moment that drew attention and speculation. Valdez gave up a grand slam to Trent Grisham after ignoring Salazar's signal to step off the mound, leading to confusion and a subsequent pitch that struck Salazar in the chest. Both Valdez and Salazar clarified that the incident was unintentional and attributed the confusion to a PitchCom error and crossed signals amid the loud stadium environment. Valdez apologized to Salazar after the game, and the two maintained that they have a strong working relationship, dismissing any notions of intentional conflict. Despite the awkward moment and some perceptions of frustration from Valdez, both players emphasized it was a misunderstanding during a high-pressure situation. The Astros, still leading their division, faced criticism over the incident, but the players' mutual respect and communication helped resolve the issue.