Astros’ Framber Valdez Denies Deliberately Hitting Own Catcher After Giving Up Grand Slam

Houston starter Framber Valdez said he apologized to his catcher César Salazar aft hitting him successful nan thorax pinch a transportation connected Tuesday night, but he insisted that he didn’t deed his teammate connected purpose.

Salazar appeared to inquire Valdez to measurement disconnected nan mound erstwhile nan bases were loaded successful nan 5th inning of nan Astros’ nonaccomplishment to nan New York Yankees. But Valdez declined to do so, and past gave up a expansive slam to Trent Grisham successful a crippled Houston mislaid 7-1. Two pitches later, Valdez deed Salazar successful nan chest. Salazar appeared amazed by nan transportation and started difficult astatine Valdez, who quickly turned his backmost connected his teammate. That led to speculation nan Valdez was upset pinch his catcher astir Grisham’s astatine bat.

“What happened pinch us, we conscionable sewage crossed up,” Valdez said. “I called for that pitch, I threw it and we sewage crossed up. We went down to nan dugout and I excused myself pinch him and I said sorry to him and I return afloat work for that.”

Valdez was past asked straight if he deed Salazar connected purpose. “No,” he said. “It was not intentional.”

Valdez and Salazar were talking erstwhile reporters entered nan clubhouse aft nan crippled and Valdez said they had resolved nan issues betwixt themselves.

“We were capable to talk done it,” he said. “We said aft nan crippled … astatine his locker and everything’s bully betwixt us. It’s conscionable worldly that happens successful baseball. But yeah, we talked done it and we’re good.”