MLB: Atlanta 5, Washington 0

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Derek Lowe and four Atlanta relievers combined for a six-hit shutout Saturday and the Atlanta Braves whitewashed Washington 5-0.

Lowe (15-12) scattered five hits, walked one and struck out four over five innings while Peter Moylan, Jonny Venters, Craig Kimbrel and Billy Wagner each tossed a scoreless frame to complete the shutout.

Alex Gonzalez socked a three-run homer and Derrek Lee contributed an RBI double for the second-place Braves, who maintained their National League East title hopes with the victory, the 2,500th of retiring manager Bobby Cox's career.

The win kept the Philadelphia Phillies' magic number to clinch the division at two. The Braves also entered the game one-half game behind San Diego in the NL wild-card race.

Nationals starter Yunesky Maya (0-3) surrendered five runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings of work.