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Ramirez joins Pirates, batting cleanup

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PITTSBURGH (AP) Aramis Ramirez joined the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night and was batting cleanup in his first game back with his old club.

The Pirates got Ramirez on Thursday in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. The third baseman was in the starting lineup against Washington.

The 37-year-old Ramirez returns to the organization that signed him as an amateur from the Dominican Republic and brought him to the major leagues as a 19-year-old in 1998. The Pirates traded him to the Chicago Cubs in 2003.

''I never thought I'd be back here but, in baseball, you never know,'' Ramirez said with a smile. ''I'm excited about being here. It's a good team with a chance to go to the playoffs.''

Ramirez hit .247 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs in 81 games for the Brewers. He batted .352 in 16 games in July.

Ramirez reiterated that he plans to retire at the end of the season.

''I've never been to the World Series,'' he said. ''It would be great to go with the Pirates to end my career''

Infielder Brent Morel was designated for assignment a night after hitting a tiebreaking, pinch-double in a 7-5 victory over the Nationals.