The Astros were close , so close , to ending the ignominious streak because of two tried-and-true Texans who empathized with the agony of being an Astros fan : the left-hander Andy Pettitte , a native of nearby Deer Park , Tex . , and the left fielder , Lance Berkman , who was born in Waco , raised in Austin and became a favorite son of this town for winding up here after playing at Rice University down the road .