HOUSTON — It had been nearly four years since the Houston Astros enjoyed the taste of victory in a World Series game at Minute Maid Park, an almost inexplicable stretch of five straight losses at home in the Fall Classic.
The last home win came in Game 5 of the 2017 World Series, when Houston beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on its way to its only championship. Home is supposed to be where sports teams flourish, so Dusty Baker, the Astros’ manager, could only shrug when asked about it, especially because he was not around for the first four of those defeats.