Max Scherzer strikes out 11 in return from oblique injury, Reds still get victory

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Max Scherzer turned in a stellar performance for the New York Mets in his return from an oblique injury.

Perhaps more importantly for the NL East leaders, the ace right-hander felt good the entire time on a steamy Tuesday night in Cincinnati.

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Tyler Naquin #12 and Mike Moustakas #9 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate after Moustakas hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to beat the New York Mets 1-0 at Great American Ball Park on July 05, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Scherzer struck out 11 while pitching six innings of two-hit ball, but New York lost 1-0 to the last-place Reds on Mike Moustakas' game-ending sacrifice fly.

Scherzer, who turns 38 in three weeks, had been sidelined by a strained oblique muscle on his left side. It was his first big league game since May 18.

"I felt great," he said. "No issues whatsoever today. Felt strong all the way through. (The oblique) never tightened up on me, so that’s a good thing."

Mets manager Buck Showalter took Scherzer out after 79 pitches — mostly fastballs and sliders — but the ace believed he could have gone deeper into the game.

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"This is a good problem to have," Scherzer said. "Buck is going to make the best decision for the ballclub and for my health and my long-term health, so I completely understand where he’s coming from. With that being said, I didn’t have any problems tonight. I felt good. I felt strong. I had nothing tighten up. I wanted to get to that 90, 95 pitch count."

Tommy Pham led off the Cincinnati ninth with