Dodgers 1, Reds 0 (11 innings)
LOS ANGELES -- Even when it's going bad, it's going good for the Dodgers.
After striking out a Los Angeles club-record 20 times against the Cincinnati Reds and going scoreless for 10 innings, they still managed to win for the 26th time in their past 32 games, beating the Reds 1-0 on a home run by Yasiel Puig in the bottom of the eleventh inning on Sunday.
The Dodgers managed just five hits off five Reds pitchers and never quite got a handle on starter Tony Cingrani, who limited them to one hit over seven innings while striking out 11.
The Dodgers went five innings between their first and second hit, and by the time Juan Uribe got the second with a double in the bottom of the eighth there were already two outs and it was instantly mitigated when Sam LeCure struck out Tim Federowicz to end the inning.
Prior to that, the only other Dodgers hit was a single by starting pitcher Chris Capuano.
But the lack of offense did not matter, thanks to Puig's 10th home run off Curtis Parch.
Not that the Reds mustered much more, although they at least put runners in scoring position.
The Reds squandered a chance to take the lead in the sixth inning when Devin Mesoraco doubled to deep center off Capuano, then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cingrani.
But Capuano got Derrick Robinson to ground to third.
Mesoraco was caught in a run down between home and third -- and ultimately was tagged out. Capuano induced Chris Heisey to pop out to get out of the inning.
In the seventh, Joey Votto doubled to lead off the inning, but Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce both flied out and reliever Ronald Belisario struck out Zack Cozart to escape the inning unscathed.
Capuano left after 6 2/3 innings, his work against the Reds among his best of the season while surrendering no runs on just three hits and striking out four.
The start for Capuano was in stark contrast to his last outing five days ago in Toronto when he allowed five runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings.
NOTES: Dodgers' left fielder Carl Crawford was out of the lineup again Sunday dealing with a high fever. Crawford missed Saturday's win over the Reds with the same ailment, and after consulting with doctors he was prescribed antibiotics. Crawford was feeling better Sunday morning, although the fever remained in flux. ... Prior to the game the Reds recalled starting pitcher Tony Cingrani from the Arizona League and designated for assignment pitcher Greg Reynolds. Cingrani was optioned to Goodyear over the All-Star break to remain on his normal rotation, and was recalled in time to make his scheduled start Sunday.
