He could have come back to Yankee Stadium July 1 to take part in the team's annual Old Timer's Day festivities.

Instead, soon-to-turn 40 Andy Pettitte, who last pitched in the big leagues in 2010 and was retired last season, returned Sunday to the site of many of his greatest triumphs as the newest member of the 2012 Yankees.

In the process, the un-retired and now 16-plus year veteran became the oldest pitcher to start a game for the Yankees since his friend Roger Clemens, whom Pettitte recently had to testify against in Clemens' steroid-related perjury trial, started against Boston at age 45 in September 2007.

Pettitte pitched adequately, giving up four runs on seven hits, three walks and two strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

Unfortunately for him, and the Yankees, his counterpart, 37-year-old Kevin Millwood, was better, allowing the Mariners to salvage the final game of their three-game series in New York and beat Pettitte (0-1) 6-2 before a Mother's Day crowd 41,361.

Millwood (1-4) hurled seven strong innings for Seattle, surrendering just one run on three hits and four walks while striking out six,?including the 2000th strikeout of his 16-year career. The righty was aided by three double plays.

Justin Smoak and Casper Wells hit two-run homers and had two hits apiece for Seattle.

Eric Chavez and Nick Swisher each had two hits and Derek Jeter collected his 3,142 hit, equaling Henry Aaron for 16th on the all-time list.

Seattle began the scoring in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Jesus Montero walked before Smoak lined a 1-1 fastball over the left-field fence for his fourth home run of the year to give the Mariners their first hit and a 2-0 lead.

New York responded in the fifth. Mark Teixeira led off with a check swing dribbler in front of the plate and beat it out for an infield hit. Swisher then singled to right, sending Teixeira to third and Raul Ibanez walked on four pitches to load the bases. After Chavez struck out looking, Russell Martin walked to force in a run, prior to Jeter bouncing into a double play to end the rally.

Seattle scored two more runs in the sixth. Dustin Ackley led off with a single and Wells followed with his first home run of the season, a drive to right that hit the foul pole. After one out, singles by Montero, Smoak and Alex Liddi filled the bases with Mariners. But Pettitte escaped further damage when Mike Carp grounded to Teixeira, who stepped on first and fired home to get Montero at the plate for an inning-ending double play.

The Yankees tried to rally in the eighth off a shaky Seattle bullpen. Chavez and Jeter singled off Tom Wilhelmsen, and after lefty Lucas Luetge struck out Curtis Granderson, Seattle manager Eric Wedge brought in Steve Delabar to face Alex Rodriguez, who worked out a full-count walk to load the bases. Lefty Charlie Furbush replaced Delabar, and promptly walked Robinson Cano on four pitches to force in Chavez. But he recovered to whiff Teixeira and leave the bases loaded with only one run in.

The Mariners tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth off Clay Rapada, one on the pitcher's throwing error. Brandon League pitched a scoreless ninth to finish for Seattle.

NOTES: To make room for Pettitte on the roster, the Yankees optioned rookie reliever Cody Eppley to Triple-A Scranton. Eppley had appeared in five games. Mariano Rivera, still awaiting knee surgery, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list...Pettitte said he had numerous family attending his return to the Yankee Stadium mound. "My parents, my in-laws, everyone from my family is going to be there," said Pettitte. "Except my oldest son, Josh. His high school team is in the playoffs down in Texas."....Before the game, the Yankees honored former Marine Cpl. Megan Leavey. In 2006, after more than 100 missions in Iraq, Leavey and her bomb-sniffing dog Rex were both injured by a roadside bomb. The two were reunited last year when the ex-Marine adopted the discharged canine "Sgt." Nick Swisher gave Leavey a jersey signed by the entire Yankee team.

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