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For nearly 20 years of it’s history, Minute Maid Park was nothing more than oddity to those outside of Houston. A hill in center field, a train in left field, and no setting in half of the outfield.
But Minute Maid Park it’s far from an oddity to Astros fans. It is home, and a Houston home wouldn’t be complete without the roof closed and the A/C on. Because the Houstonians love to party in doors.
Entering do-or-die game six against the New York Yankees, Houston couldn’t ask any more than a home game with Justin Verlander on the mound.
Verlander will get off to a hot start and the crowd will be behind him quickly. A fact that should be lost when figuring out if the Yankees can close out the series. Just take a look at previous tweets during playoff games:
Wow, Minute Maid Park crowd was so loud it drowned out Joe Buck's Fox call. Couldn't hear what he said when Altuve swiped the plate. #Astros
— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) October 15, 2017
Of all 17 years at Minute Maid Park, I have never heard it as loud as it just got. #EarnHistory pic.twitter.com/vld093a3cD
— Tyler Ray (@TylerScottRay) October 6, 2017
Altuve proceeded to hit the first pitch for an RBI-single to left. Minute Maid Park is a paint mixer right now: loud and shaking. Astros 4-1 https://t.co/ICfIaYQWjl
— Hunter Atkins (@HunterAtkins35) October 6, 2017
Minute Maid Park is in the unique company with only six other stadium that have fixed or retractable roofs. Sound has nowhere to go when the Astros fan when they want to go load. And Astros fans will show up early and be loud for Astros playoff baseball. For the rest of the season, I can’t guarantee you anything. But for the playoffs, they will come.
The home field advantage at the Juice Box is has been clear through 20 playoff games at Minute Maid Park, Houston is 13-7. That is including 4-0 during the 2017 run.
So welcome Yankees back to Houston, I hope the team brought their ear plugs.