HOUSTON -- Astros manager Joe Espada, hoping to put the controversy to bed surrounding a pitch thrown by Framber Valdez in Tuesday’s game that struck catcher César Salazar in the chest, addressed the situation at the beginning of his remarks to the media Wednesday afternoon at Daikin Park.

In the fifth inning of the Yankees’ 7-1 win Tuesday , outfielder Trent Grisham hit a grand slam off Valdez, who threw the pitch despite Salazar motioning for him to step off the rubber. Two pitches later, a clearly frustrated Valdez struck Salazar in the chest protector with a sinker, a move which both pitcher and catcher later said wasn’t intentional .

Salazar wanted a curveball, but a communication mistake caused the catcher to take a sinker in the chest that he wasn’t prepared to catch. Vald

See Full Page