Ramirez (4 hits, 3 RBI) rounding into form

On a day with the glass looking decidedly half empty - if not completely dry - Aramis Ramirez made sure there's still some Cubbie Kool-Aide left in that cup.

The division-leading Cardinals land Matt Holiday? The Cubs' lone all-star Ted Lilly down with a shoulder problems?

No problem.

At least there's Aramis Ramirez looking like Aramis Ramirez.

The Cubs' third baseman matched a career high with 4 hits, including his sixth home run of the season, driving in 3 runs in an 8-5 victory over Cincinnati at Wrigley Field.

Friday marked Ramirez's 13th game back since returning from a dislocated left shoulder. The 21st 4-hit game of his career boosted his average in those games to .275 (14-for-51) with 7 RBI, while the Cubs' offense continues to gain some momentum averaging 5.8 runs since the all-star break.

"That's my job to drive in runs in those situations," Ramirez said. "I don't think I'm the reason (for the improved offense); we're just swinging the bats well."

Ramirez started doing his damage in the first inning, driving a double to right center to score Kosuke Fukudome with two outs.

"When you start to see him one-hand balls out there like that ... the ball hit to right center to me was more impressive than the home run," shortstop Ryan Theriot said. "He hit that ball with one hand. Which makes me think that left shoulder is starting to feel better."

Ramirez wasn't quite as sure about the shoulder, which is still causing problems.

"It's there, and it's going to be there," Ramirez said of the pain. "On the swings I finish too high it's sore."

Ramirez delivered another opposite-field, two-out hit in the third, a single that again scored Fukudome and picked up Derrek Lee, who couldn't drive home Fukudome from third with one out.

Those two-out RBI had been sorely missing from the lineup during the two months Ramirez missed.

"He knows how to drive in runs," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He's done it his whole career. Good hitters use the whole field, especially in RBI situations."

After going to right field in his first 2 at-bats, Ramirez reached down to golf a slider from Aaron Harang into the left-field bleachers in the sixth inning. It was his fourth home run against Harang and gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead, which held up for his 100th career game-winning RBI.

After striking out in the seventh, Ramirez rocketed a double off the left-field wall in the eighth, avoiding the tag at second even though the throw beat him.

That's the type of production Ramirez will need to continue to keep the Cubs' glasses full of optimism, not to mention help match the improved Cardinals lineup.

"Good trade, good player, everybody is going to get better," Ramirez said. "We have a long way to go to the deadline."