Even though the outfield grass still sported three reminders of the Dolphins game played just 17 hours earlier, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez gave the Land Shark Stadium crew high marks for the field's preparation.

``An unbelievable job,'' Gonzalez said, gazing out from the dugout as workers continued to touch up the infield dirt three hours before Tuesday's first pitch.

``It's not 100 percent, but I'm watching the game last night thinking [the field's] going to be beat up -- and it's not. It's playable; both teams [have] to play on it. Those guys turned this thing around in 12 hours. You've got to tip your hat.''

The Dolphins' 27-23 loss on Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts finished at 11:35 p.m.

By midnight, crew members were under the lights starting the process of turning the playing surface back into a baseball field.

Though the crew managed to remove the gridiron's yard stripes and hash marks, there was no way to completely conceal other imprints. Two shadowy Dolphins logos remained emblazoned in the outfield; an NFL shield graced the right-field corner.

``You couldn't really cover those up,'' Gonzalez said, ``but other than that you can't really tell there was a football game here.''

BAKER'S BRUISE

Catcher John Baker came out midway through Tuesday's first game after sustaining a bruised left hand while running out a third strike that got away from Phillies catcher Paul Bako in the fourth.

As Baker neared first base, he had to quickly put up his hand to avoid getting smacked in the face by first baseman Ryan Howard's glove.

Baker stayed in the game another two innings, then gave way to Ronny Paulino in the top of the seventh. X-rays showed no break, and Baker is listed as day-to-day.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez said outfielder Jeremy Hermida remains ``slow in coming'' in his return from a strained rib muscle in his right side. He has been out since Sept. 2.

``Some days he feels good and some days he's not,'' the manager said, adding that Hermida still hasn't progressed beyond hitting off a tee or soft toss.

• Amid reports of the extensive flooding that has engulfed the Atlanta area in recent days, Gonzalez said his house in suburban Marietta managed to escape any water damage.

-- JEFF SHAIN

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