WASHINGTON — Braves manager Bobby Cox earned his 2,500th win, getting five effective innings from Derek Lowe and a three-run homer from Alex Gonzalez in Atlanta's 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

The 69-year-old Cox, set to retire at the end of the season, became the fourth major league manager to reach the milestone. He is seeking his 16th postseason appearance with the Braves.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New Jersey Nets' attempt to acquire Carmelo Anthony is in a holding pattern.A person close to the trade talks told The Associated Press on Sunday that the Nets are waiting for the Nuggets to sign off on a three-team deal that would bring Anthony to New Jersey. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations were ongoing.

ASPEN, Colo. — Lance Armstrong rode in a charity cycling event on a cool morning that had participants bundling up as if they were preparing for the slopes rather than a jaunt on the roads.With temperatures hovering around 36 degrees Sunday, a band of riders followed Armstrong's lead out of the starting gate. The event consisted of 25- and 50-mile rides through the valley to raise funds for Wapiyapi, a nonprofit organization that provides camps and support to families affected by childhood cancer.

DOVER, Del. — Clint Bowyer and RCR have a date for their "tow truck" defense.The NASCAR appeals committee has set Sept. 29 for a hearing on Bowyer's illegal car. His car failed a follow-up inspection and he was penalized 150 points after winning last weekend's first race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.NASCAR also fined crew chief Shane Wilson $150,000, and suspended him for the next six Sprint Cup races. Car chief Chad Haney was also suspended six races.Bowyer and Childress blamed the push from a tow truck for putting the car out of tolerance.

NEW DELHI — Two more Australian athletes withdrew Sunday and a South African competitor reportedly found a snake in his room as complaints over cleanliness, security and construction continued to dog the troubled Commonwealth Games a week before the sporting event opens in New Delhi.Inspections last week turned up rooms spattered with chewing tobacco and human excrement — some teams said the situation remains grim.