MIAMI -- Sometimes, Major League managers make a move that leaves fans, and even reporters, scratching their heads. But there’s a reason they’re managers, and the rest of us aren’t.

That happened on Monday at loanDepot park, when Marlins manager Skip Schumaker decided to pinch-hit right-handed-hitter Yuli Gurriel in the seventh inning against Cardinals righty Andre Pallante.

The first-year manager, at the helm after an 11-year playing career and several years as a coach with the Padres and Cardinals, knew that Pallante has reverse splits (meaning he’s better against lefties than righties). And he also knew that Gurriel had the kind of experience that, regardless, made him the perfect man for the job.

Gurriel stepped to the plate and hit a first-pitch game-tying two-run double that plopped perfectly inside the foul line in right field. As he sidled into second base, the ballpark erupted in cheers. The Marlins pulled ahead in the next at-bat, with Nick Fortes driving in pinch-runner Jon Berti to secure a 5-4 win over St. Louis and improve to 20-5 in one-run games this season.

“Pallante's a reverse split -- we prepared the guys before the game, that if Pallante came in against a lefty, to be ready,” Schumaker said. “Credit to Yuli and Berti, they were ready. … Berti told me to pinch-run him [for Gurriel], so that's credit to Berti -- and he scores.”

“Obviously, I was ready there to potentially pinch-hit,” Berti said. “And then they said [that] Yuli's going to hit ... they said I was going to go to short. And then as soon as Yuli hit that double, I grabbed my helmet thinking I was ready to run. ... I just was like, ‘Hey, Skip, do you want me to run?’ And he's like, ‘Yeah, actually, I do.’ So yeah, obviously it worked out well. Nick -- great at-bat to drive me in there.”

The way that Schumaker listens to both his players and to analytics, as well as his experience as a coach, speaks volumes. His willingness to pinch-hit with his bench players, even when trailing by a few runs, has served the Marlins well. The win over the Cards marked their 23rd comeback win through just 86 games this season, tied for the sixth most in MLB. Last year, Miami had just 17 comeback wins through 86 games, which was tied for 16th in MLB.

That’s quite a shift. And yes, it has to do with some of the pickups this offseason (i.e. Luis Arraez, who has a .388 average thus far and has been eyeing .400 much of the season). But it also has to do with a skipper who knows himself and knows his team.

A few years prior, Schumaker was being interviewed for a few other managerial positions. But he’ll be the first to admit that he wasn’t ready. Like many prospects who need more time to marinate in the Minors, he needed more experience.

“I wasn't ready yet, looking back on it,” Schumaker said pregame. “I thought I was, until I was the bench coach for two different organizations. And then I realized, ‘OK, I might be ready now.’ … When you play, you're just told what to do a lot, and then you just use your instincts and your preparation and [you] play.

“But when you're on the other side of things ... you forget that you have to get there and teach the game every single day ... can't just expect guys to do what you think they're going to do. And I don't think you ever stop developing up here, either.”

Of course, it’s still a learning experience. On Monday, Schumaker decided to go to the bullpen in the sixth inning. Starter Braxton Garrett had allowed a double to Willson Contreras to lead off the inning before getting a flyout and striking out Luken Baker swinging.

Enter Andrew Nardi, who has been among the best relievers in baseball with runners in scoring position this season. But Nardi gave up an RBI double to Paul DeJong before getting Dylan Carlson to fly out.

“Nardi's been so good with runners on base -- one of the best in the league -- and it felt like, you know, that was the time to get him and to get DeJong,” Schumaker said. “[It] didn't work out, so in hindsight, of course it's the wrong move. ... And that's part of this job in this seat, and it sucks when it doesn't happen the correct way. … Because I made the move, right? It's not a good feeling when it doesn't work out.”

Schumaker’s humility is part of what has made him succeed thus far as a manager. That, and his ability to communicate with his players. Perhaps Berti described the club’s feelings about Schumaker the best:

“It's been awesome,” Berti said. “I think we've been building from Spring Training, from the day he got the job and we all got together as a team. We've loved playing for him. His communication skills are very good. … [He] trusts us to be us, but also obviously relies on some of the analytical data and stuff like that. But at the end of the day, he knows how to manage people.”