'Comfortable' Cashner leaves Cardinals feeling ill

Even though he wasn't feeling his best Saturday, rookie reliever Andrew Cashner and his 100 mph fastball still got the job done.

"I told the trainer I wasn't feeling very good," Cashner said of a sore throat that he awoke with. "I got some medicine afterwards."

But during the game, it was the rookie who was dishing out the medicine, getting out of jams in the seventh and eighth innings to help preserve the Cubs' second straight win over the Cardinals.

"Every time out there I feel more comfortable," Cashner said. "The biggest thing for me is trying to slow the game down and control my emotions."

If he keeps doing that and pitching like he has lately, Cashner might find himself as a permanent fixture at the back end of the bullpen.

"I'm not going come in and take (Sean) Marshall's (setup) job," Cashner said. "I think I could bridge the gap (before Marshall).

"What we have right now is a good thing. As long as we get the ball to (closer) Carlos Marmol, that's all we've got to do."

Viva la difference: If you've been watching the resurgence of Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez and wondered, "who is this guy?" it's for good reason.

Because after a miserable first three months, Ramirez has turned on the afterburners this month and put up some startling numbers.

Ramirez, who extended his hitting streak to five games Saturday, has 9 home runs in his last 15 games dating to July 6 (tops in the majors), and he is hitting .361 with 24 RBI (tied for most in baseball with Alex Rodriguez) over that stretch.

That's OF Golden: The Cubs signed their second selection from the 2010 June draft, outfielder Reggie Golden out of Wetumpka High School in Wetumpka, Ala., on Saturday.

The 18-year-old Golden, who was recommended by area scout Tom Clark, batted .460 (29-for-83) with 18 walks, 28 runs, 5 doubles, 5 home runs, 24 RBI and a .578 on-base percentage in 27 games in 2010 for the Indians.

Golden is a 5-foot-11, 210-pounder who bats and throws right-handed. His signing means the Cubs have signed 24 of their 50 selections from the 2010 draft, including their first five.