"From experience it takes awhile for everyone to come together and to have chemistry. Once that happens and everyone can trust each other, we'll be all right," Schumaker told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

For his part, Schumaker is showing signs of life recently, despite not playing every day. He has started six of the last 10 games, and is batting .304 in that span. 

Going 1 for 3 with a run scored in the game, Schumaker raised his batting average to .190. Struggling with the bat for most of the year, Schumaker has hit in four straight games and has gone 5 for 11 (.455) over that stretch with three doubles and three RBI. He's also stolen a base over that span. 

"It's a tough situation because you're getting your butt kicked and you try not to have too good of a time out there because you're down by [10]," said Schumaker, who pitched some in college, per MLB.com. "But you don't get too many chances for that. I remember growing up watching Orel [Hershiser] pitch, so I was on the same mound as Orel. That was pretty cool."

Schumaker allowed two hits and a walk, but he escaped a bases-loaded jam by inducing Jonathan Herrera to ground out to end the threat. Schumaker threw 25 pitches.

"You just try to not get anybody hurt and get through that inning as quick as you can," said Schumaker, who is batting .139 (5 for 36) in 21 games.