SPORTSTICKER NL RECAP SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Steve Avery and Scott Williamson combined to throw a two-hitter and the surging Cincinnati Reds won for the seventh time in eight games with a 6-2 victory over the San Diego Padres. Eddie Taubensee had three hits and three RBI and Michael Tucker came up a homer shy of the cycle and scored three times, helping Cincinnati (21-19) move two games over .500 for the first time since winning its first two contests in 1997. Avery (3-3) struggled with his control as he pitched for the first time in 12 days, having sat out his last start due to a blister on his left middle finger. He still managed to limit the opposition to two runs or less for the sixth time in eight starts. He matched a career high with six walks, but also allowed just two hits and struck out four. "It was a little adjustment getting back out there," Avery said. "I didn't feel that comfortable or strong. I was able to get through it. I was just trying to keep them off balance and throw strikes as well as I can." "He walked a lot of guys, but he always seemed to get out of trouble," said Reds manager Jack McKeon. "You can't complain when he holds them to two runs and two hits in six innings. I didn't want to press my luck, even though I probably could have gotten another inning out of him." The lefthander has yielded two earned runs and four hits over 11 innings to win his last two starts after going winless in four straight. Avery improved to 5-4 lifetime against the Padres. Williamson walked three but did not allow a run or a hit in three innings, striking out six en route to his fifth save in as many chances. Tucker tripled and scored on Taubensee's single in the first inning, then both doubled home runs in the fourth. Dmitri Young contributed a pinch two-run single in the sixth before Tucker singled and scored in the eighth on another single by Taubensee. Taubensee was inserted into the starting lineup after McKeon learned that catcher Brian Johnson was suffering from dizziness. "When I came in, they said Brian wasn't feeling well. I said, 'Fine, I'll be ready,'" Taubensee said. "They just put me in the lineup a little late, that's all. I knew I was playing before batting practice. It was a matter of getting ready for the game." "I wasn't going to play Taubensee until Johnson came down sick," McKeon added. "It makes me look like a genius. I'm not." Matt Clement (0-5) was saddled with another loss as he received little support. The 24-year-old righthander allowed five runs -- three earned -- and five hits over seven innings. He walked four, struck out four and surrendered three earned runs or less in his seventh straight start. The Padres, whose two errors led to two runs for the Reds, have scored just 27 runs in his eight outings this season. Reggie Sanders had both of the hits to snap an 0-for-22 slump and stole two bases for San Diego, which has dropped six of its last eight games. "It's time to get ticked off. I've had enough," said San Diego manager Bruce Bochy. "I'm tired of looking at the mistakes we're making. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. I can deal with losing, but when you get beat, get beat fighting. Right now, I don't see a lot of fight in us." Damian Jackson walked to lead off the third inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Phil Nevin inning as the Padres pulled even, 1-1. But the Reds answered with two runs in the fourth to take the lead for good. Hal Morris walked and later scored on Tucker's double to the right-center field gap. Taubensee followed with a double to the right-field corner for a 3-1 lead. An error by second baseman Jackson at second base allowed Greg Vaughn to reach with one out in the sixth. Barry Larkin walked and after Tucker grounded out, Taubensee was intentionally walked to load the bases. That move proved costly for the Padres as Clement surrendered a single to Young, hitting for Chris Stynes. Sanders reached on an infield hit in the bottom half and later came around to score on Avery's wild pitch. Cincinnati got the run back in the eighth when Tucker stroked a one-out single, went to second on an errant pickoff attempt by Ed Vosberg and scored for the third time on Taubensee's single to right.  