NEW YORK -- For the New York Yankees, MRI has become a statistic thats just as important as ERA and RBIs. Andy Pettitte trudged off in the fifth inning with a back injury. Chris Stewart limped off after seven with an injured leg. A 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night seemed more significant than just another defeat. Twelve Yankees already have been on the disabled list this year, costing a total of 332 games. While they lead the AL East at 25-16, how many more injuries can they withstand? "I think everybody else out of this room probably already felt we passed that point," said Brett Gardner, stranded on third base when Robinson Cano hit a game-ending groundout. Seeking his 250th win, Pettitte started feeling uncomfortable in the fourth inning, when Seattle took a 2-1 lead on an infield single by Brendan Ryan, who had been in a 5-for-60 slide. "When I came off in the fourth, it just completely locked up and I got the trainer to give me a little massage down here with some heat, and it loosened up and loosened up really good," Pettitte said. It lasted only until his first pitch of the fifth, to Jason Bay. "It completely locked back up on me," Pettitte said. "I couldnt get extended at all. I really just felt like I was kind of cutting everything off and really just trying to throw it in there, just almost slower than slow to tell you the truth." Pettitte struck out Bay and Kyle Seager. By then, Yankees manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild noticed Pettittes velocity had dropped, and they went to the mound and took him out. "He is 40 years old, and were probably going to go through this probably a little bit." Girardi said. Pettitte missed a start in April because of lower back spasms. This was diagnosed as a tight left trapezius muscle, near his pitching shoulder. It was too soon to determine whether he would miss his next turn. "Theres no doubt Im getting old. But I dont want to sit there and tell you that thats the exact reason why," Pettitte said. "I look around the league and I see all kind of people on the DL with all kind of problems that are a lot younger than me, too." Stewart pulled up at third base in the seventh on Canos infield single, which drew the Yankees within a run. He stayed in for Vernon Wells inning-ending popout, then was sent for an MRI of his left groin. "He felt something," Girardi said. "He said it didnt pop." Stewart, who took over as the Yankees starting catcher when Francisco Cervelli broke a hand last month, was replaced by Austin Romine. New York doesnt have any other available catchers on its 40-man roster and would have to clear a spot for Bobby Wilson, who has been starting at Triple-A. "Injuries are a part of the game, and some years youre going to have more than others," Girardi said. "And right now we have a few." Pettitte (4-3) allowed two runs, four hits and three walks in 4 2-3 innings with five strikeouts, struggling again with his command. In the fourth, he ran into foul territory on the third base side to make a basket catch on Raul Ibanezs low popup but said that didnt figure into his back problem. Seattle had injury issues, too. Aaron Harang, Seattles scheduled starter, felt a twinge in his back Wednesday and notified the Mariners, who in turn told Hector Noesi to prepare for his first big league start of the season. A 26-year-old right-hander, Noesi was acquired by the Mariners from the Yankees in January 2012 in the trade that sent promising pitcher Michael Pineda to New York and made four relief appearances for Seattle this year. He gave up an unearned run and three hits in 4 1-3 innings, leaving with two on. Lefty Oliver Perez (1-0), his career revived in Seattle, entered with runners at the corners and struck out Gardner and retired Jayson Nix on a popup. Seattle also got runs on Dustin Ackleys RBI double in the second and Michael Morses sixth-inning homer off former Mariners pitcher Shawn Kelley, a drive that bounced off the divider between Monument Park and the Yankees bullpen in right-centre for his 10th homer this season. Granderson singled in the second and scored when David Adams doubled for his first big league RBI. In his third game back from a broken arm, Granderson made his third career start at DH and had three hits. He doubled in the eighth but Carter Capps retired rookie David Adams on a popup and struck out Ichiro Suzuki, who one inning earlier singled to stop an 0-for-22 slide. Tom Wilhelmsen finished to remain perfect in 11 save chances. He allowed a one-out single to Gardner, who stole second and third. He struck out Nix -- leaving right-handed batters 0 for 30 against him this year -- then retired Cano on a groundout to shortstop. "What can you say? Nobodys going to feel sorry us," Gardner related. "We cant take the day off tomorrow." NOTES: Girardi said SS Derek Jeter (broken ankle) should be out of a walking boot soon. ... RHP Joba Chamberlain (strained oblique) will need at least one more minor league rehab outing before the Yankees activate him from the DL. ... New York 1B Mark Teixeira (wrist) hit several long homers on curveballs off a pitching machine at the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. 3B Alex Rodriguez, coming back from hip surgery in January, is hitting off a tee and swinging at soft toss flips in a batting cage as he wraps up his second week of baseball activities. ... Travis Hafner (sore right shoulder) took batting practice and hopes to be able to play Friday. ... The Yankees optioned RHP Brett Marshall back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and recalled RHP Dellin Betances from the Triple-A team.Hydro Flask Goedkoop . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Hydro Flask Sale . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. http://www.belgiehydroflask.com/ . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Hydro Flask Coffee Belgie .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Hydro Flask Rietje . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement.CLEVELAND -- The NBA champion Cavaliers have made a qualifying offer to popular backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova, making him a restricted free agent.Dellavedova is expected to draw interest from other teams once free agency begins, and depending on how much hes offered, the Cavs could face a tough decision on whether to re-sign the Australian. The 25-year-old had a solid third season with Cleveland, averaging 7.5 points and 4.4 assists in 24.6 minutes per game.However, his playing time dwindled duriing the NBA Finals as coach Tyronn Lue gave minutes to Mo Williams.ddddddddddddDellavedova was vital for Cleveland during the finals a year ago when Kyrie Irving shattered his kneecap. The 6-foot-4 guard is a relentless defender, and star LeBron James joked during a rally last week that if Dellavedova was battling a bear for a loose ball that Delly would tear that damn bear up. ' ' '