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Along with outfield, Morse will see time at first

BOSTON -- Michael Morse was in the lineup for a second straight day Wednesday as Mariners acting manager Robby Thompson continued working him back from a five-week stint on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps, but this time he was playing first base instead of right field.

Morse has played primarily outfield this year, with Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales getting the bulk of time at first. But he's played first a lot in his career and will see time there sporadically going forward.

"It's taking it easy on the legs. And you're looking at matchups," Thompson said after sitting Smoak on Wednesday. "We've got to get him in there. In these six games [on the current road trip], we're looking to get him in four of them. I think that's fair to him as far as with his leg and easing him back in.

"We'll see how he does tonight and how he comes out of it. He'll move back around and play right field and maybe DH a little. We're going to have to juggle things a little bit, having him back. We have other guys, too. Obviously, Smoaky is our best first baseman and probably one of the best in the league defensively. So we have to keep an eye on that and keep everybody fresh, yet keep them getting their at-bats."

Morse said he felt fine physically in his first game back, though he struck out three times in an 0-for-4 night.

"Now I just need to put the bat on the ball," he said.

Greg Johns is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB as well as his Mariners Musings blog.
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