For the 17th time in 25 games, the Reds fell behind - this time when Hanley Ramirez reversed the first pitch he saw from Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang in the first inning deep into the left field seats.

Harang kept it right there until he had two outs and Ramirez on second after he singled in the sixth. Jeremy Hermedia jamjobbed a bloop single down the left field line to score Ramirez for a 2-0 Marlins lead.

The Reds finally reached Josh Johnson for two runs in the seventh on three straight singles by Brandon Phillips (an infield hit), Jay Bruce and Ramon Hernandez for one run and the second scored while Adam Rosales rolled into a double play.

Harang, though, left after seven innings, expending 117 pitches to get there while giving up seven hits, three walks and striking out nine - all for a no decision.

The Reds placed two on with one out in the eighth, but Joey Votto flied to center and Brandon Phillips was burglarized when shortstop Ramirez went high to snag a line drive.

Bruce walked to open the ninth and Hernandez bunted him to second, but Rosales popped to the catcher and Alex Gonzalez lined softly to shortstop.

The Reds escaped sudden death evaporation in the bottom of the ninth when Arthur Rhodes had his first rotten performance of the year, giving up two singles.

Nick Masset replaced him with two outs and walked Ramirez to fill the bases before Jorge Cantu flied to right, sending the game into extra innings.

The Reds put two on with one out in the 11th, only to watch Hernandez fly to left and Rosales strike out swinging at three pitches, two of them level with his sideburns.

The futility factor struck again in the 12th when Paul Janish led with an infield single, but pinchhitter Darnell McDonald hit into a double play.

Meanwhile, closer Coco Cordero warmed up five different times, in case the Reds ever got the lead, but never got in.

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez left in the ninth inning with a strained left oblique and returned to Cincinnati for an examination by Dr. Tim Kremchek.