Max Scherzer returned to the New York Mets on Tuesday night, striking out 11 over six scoreless innings.

The Mets eventually lost to 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds.

Scherzer had last started for the Mets on May 18, when he left his start in the sixth inning and went on the injured list with an oblique strain. He tossed 79 pitches against the Reds.

"Felt great," Scherzer said. "No issues whatsoever today. Felt strong all the way through. It never tightened up on me. ... Most importantly, I felt like I had a really good slider tonight. During my rehab starts, my slider wasn't really breaking the right way. In my bullpen, I felt I found something with my slider, and I knew I would need it tonight against this team and was able to execute that."