In a fiery clash at Daikin Park, the New York Yankees secured a commanding 7-1 victory over the Houston Astros, but the game’s real drama unfolded in the fourth inning when utilityman José Caballero was ejected for the second time in just two weeks. Known for getting under opponents’ skin, Caballero seems to have a similar knack for ruffling umpires’ feathers—a trait that proved costly in this heated matchup.
The incident sparked when Caballero, facing Astros lefty Framber Valdez, was struck on the leg by a bouncing pitch. As he jumped to avoid the ball, Caballero swung, only for home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus to call it a strike. Visibly frustrated, Caballero voiced his disbelief, arguing the improbability of the umpire tracking the pitch’s trajectory, his swing, and the hit-by-pitch all at once. “How can you see everything happen?” Caballero later recounted, still incredulous. “You’re paying attention to the strike zone, the ball bouncing, me jumping out of the way, whether it hit me, and you also see that I swung? That’s crazy.” His animated exchange earned him a swift ejection from De Jesus, who showed little patience for the dispute.
Caballero’s early exit was a blow to the Yankees’ strategy. Having already doubled and stolen third in his first at-bat, the versatile infielder was slated to shift to the outfield later, replacing Giancarlo Stanton as a defensive substitute. Instead, lefty-hitting Ryan McMahon took over at third base, and Jasson Domínguez eventually filled in for Stanton in left field. Manager Aaron Boone, unable to intervene in time to save his player, expressed mixed feelings. “I don’t love it,” Boone admitted, referencing the ejection. While less severe than Caballero’s previous ejection in extra innings against the Rays last month, which left the Yankees’ bench critically short, Boone emphasized the need for better control. “He’s too important to our team and to this game tonight,” Boone said. “It’s something we’ve got to continue to work on.”
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Despite the drama, the Yankees cruised to victory, with Paul Blackburn delivering a stellar performance in relief. The right-hander pitched the final two innings, striking out four and sealing the game with a slick double play—snaring a soft liner and firing to first. Blackburn’s effort gave the Yankees’ bullpen a much-needed breather after starter Max Fried’s solid outing.
Elsewhere, the Yankees received encouraging news on the injury front. Outfielder Austin Slater, sidelined by a hamstring strain, played his third rehab game with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 1-for-3 with a walk and logging seven innings in left field. Slater is expected to return from the IL by the weekend, bolstering the Yankees’ roster. Meanwhile, Cody Bellinger’s red-hot bat earned him AL Player of the Week honors, boasting a .444 average and a 1.278 OPS over the past week—a testament to the team’s offensive firepower.
Caballero’s ejection may have stolen the spotlight, but the Yankees’ resilience and depth shone through in this fiery showdown. As they continue their push, the team will look to harness Caballero’s spark—without the early showers.