By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI(AP) -- Rookie Drew Stubbs took a poke at the fastball
and missed, providing the perfect ending.

The Los Angeles Dodgers struck out 20 batters on Sunday, their
highest total in 37 years. Matt Kemp provided just enough
offense with a solo homer and a sacrifice fly, and the
overpowering pitching staff did the rest in a 3-2, 12-inning
victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

"They've got some powerful arms over there," manager Dusty Baker
said. "I don't know how many strikeouts we had, but we had a
bunch."

They came so fast that it was easy to lose track.

The Dodgers hadn't struck out 20 batters since Aug. 8, 1972,
when they fanned 22 Reds during a 19-inning game at Riverfront
Stadium. This one was seven innings shorter, making the total
much more impressive.

Left-hander Clayton Kershaw struck out 11 in seven innings, and
five relievers kept it going. They struck out at least two
batters in each of the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th innings.

"They've been awesome the whole year," Kershaw said of the
bullpen, which leads the majors in wins and earned run average.
"They've picked up everybody. They've been the rock of this
team."

The NL West leaders took two of three from the Reds over the
weekend, extending their lead over Colorado. No surprise there -
the Dodgers are 22-4 against the Reds since 2006, their best
mark against any NL team, according to STATS LLC.

The bullpen had a big hand in both wins, throwing 11 2-3
scoreless innings.

"These guys are taking this opportunity and certainly giving us
the opportunity to do something special," manager Joe Torre
said.

They made it easy on an offense that had trouble coming up with
a decisive hit.

The Dodgers wasted scoring chances in the eighth, ninth and 11th
innings before finally breaking through against closer Francisco
Cordero (2-4), who loaded the bases with a walk to Manny
Ramirez, a double by Juan Castro and an intentional walk to
Andre Ethier with one out.

Kemp's fly to the warning track in center snapped the tie and
gave the Dodgers their seventh victory in the last 10 games
overall.

"Scrappy teams with playoff experience usually find a way," Reds
starter Bronson Arroyo said.

James McDonald (4-3) pitched a perfect 11th inning, and Jonathan
Broxton escaped a two-on threat in the 12th for his 29th save in
34 chances. All three of hits outs came on strikeouts.

The only disappointment for LA: Kershaw couldn't snap his
astounding streak of futility. The left-hander hasn't won a game
since July 18, going 0-2 in his last eight starts despite
pitching well - a 2.91 ERA during that stretch.

The reason: No runs.

The Dodgers have scored an average of less than two runs during
that stretch, giving the 21-year-old pitcher no margin for
error. He tried to fix the problem single-handedly on Sunday,
driving in a run with a single in the fifth inning. Kemp also
had a solo homer off Arroyo, who lasted 7 1-3 innings.

At least the Dodgers won this one. In Kershaw's last seven
starts, they lost.

"When the team wins, you feel better about your game, really,"
Kershaw said.

Kershaw allowed only four hits. His one mistake came in the
second, when Darnell McDonald hit his first major league homer
for a 2-0 lead.

Torre tried to give the slumping Ramirez a day off, leaving him
out of the starting lineup. Ramirez hit a two-run homer during
an 11-4 win on Saturday, but hasn't done much for the past
couple of weeks. He has only two extra-base hits in his last 13
games.

He pinch-hit for Kershaw in the eighth inning and popped out,
then stayed in the game in left field. He later had an infield
single and the leadoff walk that started the winning rally.

NOTES: The Dodgers acquired INF Ronnie Belliard from Washington
after the game. ... Ramirez is 1 for 4 off the bench this
season, including his first career pinch-hit grand slam against
the Reds on July 22 at Dodger Stadium. ... It was Kershaw's
third double-digit strikeout game of the season. ... The Reds
play a day-night doubleheader against the Pirates on Monday,
making up a game rained out on April 10. The Pirates and Reds
last played a doubleheader in Cincinnati on July 2, 1993 at
Riverfront Stadium, splitting the two games. ... Joey Votto
struck out four times.