SURPRISE, Ariz. — Willie Bloomquist’s first full game back in the Mariners’ lineup didn’t turn out the way the Seattle utility player had hoped.

Bloomquist singled in his first at-bat against Kansas City on Wednesday but went hitless in four other trips to the plate. He also had two fly balls glance off his glove, one of them resulting in an inside-the-park home run by Kansas City’s Jason Smith in the second inning.

“I’m not quite where I need to be at but I’m kind of out of time so I have to make do with what I’ve got,” Bloomquist said. “Things are a little bit off baseball-wise, the timing’s a little off. There’s some things obviously I still have to work on but it is good to get back out there.”

Bloomquist had been sidelined since March 17 with tightness in his right quadriceps. He entered Monday’s game against the White Sox as a defensive replacement but didn’t bat.

After getting some work in during a few minor league games earlier this week, Bloomquist was penciled in as Seattle’s leadoff hitter against the Royals.

He opened the game by singling off Kansas City opening day starter Gil Meche, then later scored on Jose Vidro’s double to center. Bloomquist then struck out in the second, grounded out in the fourth, flew out in the sixth before striking out looking to end the eighth.

Bloomquist had his problems defensively in center field, too. He tried to leap to catch Smith’s long fly ball to center but the ball tipped off his glove and rolled around in the outfield while Smith raced around the bases.

Kansas City’s Ryan Shealy hit another fly ball to Bloomquist in the sixth that again hit his glove and fell to the turf. Shealy wound up with a triple.

“He’s a little rusty,” Mariners manager John McLaren said. “I thought he should have had a couple of those balls in center field but to his benefit he hasn’t been out there. You have to give him a little slack. He usually catches those balls.

LOWE ON A HIGH: Right-hander Mark Lowe earned his first save of the spring and was clocked in the low 90s with his fastball, a positive sign for a player who is coming off two elbow surgeries last year.

Lowe pitched the ninth inning against Kansas City on Wednesday and gave up a double while striking out one. It was his third appearance in Seattle’s last four games.

“He was impressive,” McLaren said. “He’s throwing the ball down and he’s shown us he’s recovered. I like what I’ve seen.”

The Mariners still have a lot of decisions to make regarding their bullpen.

Right-hander Chris Reitsma left camp Wednesday after being told by Seattle that he wouldn’t be on the team’s 25-man roster at the start of the season. There’s no word on whether he’ll accept the team’s invitation to pitch in an extended spring training.

The team also made one roster move, optioning lefty Ryan Feierabend to Triple-A Tacoma. Feierabend was 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in six appearances this spring.

SHORT HOPS: Though Seattle made no official announcement, the team told RHP Roy Corcoran and IF Tug Hulett they would be sent down to the minors. ... Jeremy Reed and Mike Morse, both competing for the Mariners’ fourth outfielder spot, each went 2-for-4 against Kansas City.