Trick or treat: For Astros kids, costumes before curveballs

LOS ANGELES (AP) With Game 6 of the World Series being played on Halloween, costumed children of the Houston Astros gathered in the lobby of the team hotel.

''The trick-or-treating in the hotel (had to) suffice, because I think this is special circumstances,'' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday's game. ''So is missing school. But you should stay in school.''

Houston's players, staff and families stayed in downtown Los Angeles, less than 4 miles from Dodger Stadium. The Astros led the series 3-2, one win from the first title in the team's 56-season history.

Hinch said it was special to have wife Erin and daughters Haley and Kaitlin share the experience but also difficult.

''I think they've been to school six days this month, which is hard for me. A Stanford grad, it's hard for me to pull my kids out of school,'' he said. ''All of us in baseball cherish our families and what they sacrifice for us to live out this dream and do this crazy stuff.''

Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said utilityman Enrique Hernandez was among his players into the Halloween spirit.

''I saw Kike in some outfit earlier,'' Roberts said about four hours before the game.

In a sport in which almost every facet is reduced to a computerized report, Hinch's mind was filled with game knowledge. Finding out what costumes his girls wore had to wait.

''You know what, I'm not a bad father, but I'm not really sure,'' he said.

---

More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball