Sean Burnett could have dismissed his first outing of spring training as easily as his catcher, Chris Iannetta.

“It’s the first day out,” Iannetta said after Burnett allowed four hits and two runs in one-third of an inning Wednesday against the San Diego Padres. “You’re not worried about results.”

Burnett was.

“I’m not quite back to being locked in yet,” Burnett said, “but that’s no excuse. I was sloppy.”

So were some of the Padres’ four hits off the left-hander, whose debut was delayed by off-season elbow surgery and more recently, pain in his lower back.

Nick Hundley shot a flare into center field to lead off the inning. After Kyle Gaedele popped out, Jonathan Galvez hit a sinking line drive into right field that bounced off the ground and caromed off Kole Calhoun‘s face back toward the infield. Daniel Robertson singled to load the bases, Gregorio Petit singled to drive in two runs, and Burnett’s day was over.

“Physically I felt fine,” he said, “but obviously the results weren’t good. I expect better of myself. It was just a bad outing.”

Burnett toyed with his fastball and some of his breaking pitches, but left too many up in the zone for his liking.

“I was a little jittery. That probably had something to do with being up in the zone,” he said. “I’ll be better the next time out.”

If nothing else, the Angels learned that Burnett puts a lot of stock into exhibition outings. Better to get those jitters out of the way before opening day — which Burnett said is still his target. Signed to a two-year, $8 million deal over the winter, Burnett may have to prove his worth in the eighth or ninth inning come April 1 if Ryan Madson begins the season on the disabled list.

The Angels will have a better idea tomorrow if Burnett will be ready for Cincinnati.

“Hopefully he comes out if it well,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.