In 2011, my deployment to Afghanistan was coming to an end. All I could think about was getting back home to my family and the environment I was accustomed to living in. It was on my mind daily. I just wanted to get home.

For the Houston Astros, I can imagine this is how they felt going into Game 5 of the World Series against the Atlanta Braves trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Now some of the pundits out there would be quick to say, “Well, they were going home no matter the outcome.”

That is a fact. A Game 5 loss would send Houston back home, having lost the World Series in Atlanta. But if they won Game 5, they come back to Houston with a fighting chance of capturing their second championship in franchise history.

Most Astros fans are excited that the latter happened as Houston staved off elimination by beating Atlanta 9-5 and forcing a Game 6. The series is still in the Braves' favor with a 3-2 advantage.

“The guys are happy, but they weren't overjoyed,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker on his team’s mood on the way back to Houston on Monday. “They know that we still have work to do, and like when we -- you want to go up there and win three. When it didn't happen in Game 3 and Game 4, you're behind the eight ball, then you change your rally cry to we just want to get back to the H-Town. We wanted to come back home.”

Houston almost didn't make it home to play another game as starting pitcher Framber Valdez gave up a grand slam in the first inning and followed that up with a solo shot in the bottom of the third inning after the Astros had chipped away at the lead to tie the game at four apiece.

Down by one run didn’t seem as bad in this game as it had in the previous two because Houston finally looked as if their bats had come to life. Mostly, because for the first time in the four days that the Astros had been at Truist Park, they were finally able to get on the field for batting practice. That was important as Houston used some timely hits to get back into the game and eventually put it away with a three-runs in the fifth inning.

“From the moment we scored those two runs, we said, ‘all right, it's time to go,’” said shortstop Carlos Correa. “Let's go. Let's put great at-bats together. Let's fight. Let's battle. Eventually, we ended up scoring all those runs and have a great game. That's the mentality we keep having.”

The Astros bullpen has been an important part of their postseason success, and they delivered once again after the starting pitcher could not sustain going at least five innings. Five relievers pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings to give Houston the victory. They must also be ready for a tough Game 6 with rookie Luis Garcia on the mound after just three days’ rest.

That is no concern for manager Dusty Baker as he knows his pitchers will be ready to go when their time comes.

“He's not our only option,” Baker said about Garcia. “We have [Jake] Odorizzi. We could come back with [Jose] Urquidy because yesterday was his throw day, but I'd rather not. So, we've got a full option.”