CINCINNATI (AP) — John Means pitched seven shutout innings in his season debut and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 on Saturday night.

Means (1-0) underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on April 27, 2022. He returned to make four starts last September before landing back on the IL with a left forearm strain to begin this season.

“Felt pretty good,” Means said after the Orioles won for the fifth time in their last six games. “The team’s playing so well, just wanted to join them and feel that energy that they’re feeling. Felt like the slider and changeup was working, locating well. You want to get that first one out of the way.”

Like Cole Irvin the night before, Means kept Reds batters off balance with no walks and eight strikeouts.

“That was unbelievable,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “To go out and do that, pitch seven shutout innings, first time off of rehab, not been on a big-league mound for a while, that was way more than we anticipated.”