Framber Valdez and César Salazar crossed signals twice in the fifth inning of a September game at Daikin Park. The first miscommunication cost a grand slam. The second put a 93-mph sinker into Salazar's chest protector.
The Houston Astros entered September 2, 2025 at 76-63, leading the AL West by three games over Seattle. The New York Yankees arrived at 77-61. Valdez took the mound for Houston. The catcher behind the plate was not his usual partner.
Yainer Diaz, who had caught 23 of Valdez's 26 starts in 2025, was slotted at designated hitter. Backup catcher Victor Caratini sat on the concussion injured list. That left Salazar.
Through four innings, the battery held. Then came the fifth.
Two outs, bases loaded, Trent Grisham at the plate. The count was 1-0. Salazar signaled for a curveball through PitchCom. He motioned for Valdez to step off. Valdez did not step off. He delivered a sinker. Grisham drove it to left-center field — a grand slam, 358 feet. Yankees 6, Astros 0.
Anthony Volpe stepped in next. On a 1-0 count, Salazar again requested a curveball through PitchCom. Valdez threw a 93-mph sinker. The ball hit Salazar square in the chest protector. He was not set for it.
Salazar stood, removed his mask, and looked toward the mound. Valdez had already turned his back and walked away. He did not say anything.
Valdez finished the fifth inning with six earned runs and did not return for the sixth. The final score was Yankees 7, Astros 1.
In the postgame media session, Valdez spoke in Spanish. He said his mind locked onto the sinker — "me bloqueé con la sink" — and that he did not hear the pitch call through PitchCom because of the noise in the stadium. He called it unintentional.
"I've pitched worse than that," Valdez said. "I have no reason to throw at anyone."
He said he apologized to Salazar when they returned to the dugout after the inning, and again at Salazar's locker after the game. He also explained the situation to manager Joe Espada. He told Espada he crossed up by accident and did not want anyone to think it was retaliation for the home run.
Salazar said he pressed the wrong button on PitchCom before the grand slam. The stadium was loud. It was a high-leverage moment for the Yankees, and the crowd reflected it.
"Heat of the moment got to us," Salazar said. "He apologized after."
He described his relationship with Valdez as strong, built over three years. He did not characterize the cross-up as anything more than a miscommunication.
The conversation did not end in the clubhouse that night. The following day, teammates confronted Valdez, and the exchange escalated into an argument before coaches intervened. The dispute centered on two points: whether the cross-up was intentional, and why Valdez did not check on Salazar immediately after hitting him.
Espada addressed the situation in his September 3 press conference. He said he wanted a face-to-face conversation because he wanted to hear the truth. He said he wanted to put it behind the team.
On September 3, Valdez started again. Salazar caught. Valdez threw seven scoreless innings.
Cross-ups happen in baseball. Most are forgotten before the next pitch. This one wasn't.