 It's time to get to the Beacon Plumbing Sports Desk with Bill Swartz, a much-anticipated Mariners Astros series in Soto. Amanda, Brian, Seattle's held the American League West lead for the better part of a month and a half, but the Houston Astros are nipping at their heels only a game back. So it makes this weekend's three-game series significant, not make or break it. One thing's for certain, manager Scott Service Ball Club has to pull out of its offensive funk.