HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander, Joe Smith and Will Harris tossed the ball at Minute Maid Park as slanting light from the late-afternoon sun streaked through the large glass panels and across right field.

After arriving home at 4:30 a.m., they were back in familiar surroundings, yes, but home, sweet, home has been anything but in this contrarian World Series. For just the third time in Series history, the visiting team has won the first five games.

"I don't think there's really a rhyme or reason why maybe that's happened," Harris said.

In a tale of two cities, the Nationals outscored the Astro...