Jason Michaels is hoping a change of leagues will help him get his season on track.

The 32-year-old outfielder joined the Pirates on Friday night for their 3-2 win over Atlanta in the opener of a four-game home series one day after being acquired from Cleveland in a trade.

Michaels hit only .207 with nine RBIs in 21 games for the Indians this season, though he was 7-for-18 (.389) with four RBIs in his last six games. He had an inauspicious debut with the Pirates, striking out on three pitches as a pinch hitter against 303-game winner Tom Glavine with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

"It's a new team and a new league. I'm back in the National League, so I'm looking at this as a whole new start to the season," Michaels said. "I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to get started with a new team. I think it's going to be a good move for me."

Michaels spent the first five seasons of his career in the NL with Philadelphia from 2001-05 and hit .291 with 21 home runs and 100 RBIs in 383 games and 803 at-bats as a part-time player.

Pirates outfielders are first in the major leagues in home runs (20), RBIs (75), batting average (.311), slugging percentage (.541) and on-base percentage (.400). That might not leave much room for Michaels to get many starts.

"Those guys are playing great and that's fine with me," Michaels said. "You want to see everyone doing well. I'll help out in whatever way I can."

PIRATES 3, BRAVES 2: Second baseman Freddy Sanchez continued his hot hitting since being moved into the leadoff spot of the batting order as he drove in all three Pirates' runs, including singling home the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth inning. Sanchez has gone 9-for-16 in four games since being moved up one notch from No. 2 and the Pirates are 4-0 in those games while he has lifted his batting average from .222 to .261.

John Grabow (2-1) got the win as he relieved Tyler Yates and escaped a first-and-second jam with none out in the top of the ninth and score tied at 2-2 by striking out Kelly Johnson and getting Yunel Escobar to ground into a double play.

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