NEW YORK — After 50 years in baseball, Bobby Cox figured the only way he would ever give up managing was to pick a specific time and announce it publicly.

So that's what he did yesterday, revealing his plans to retire as manager of the Atlanta Braves after next season.

Now comes the hard part: sticking to it.

"There is a little bit of relief once you come to grips with announcing it," Cox said. "I've never lost the love to manage, period. But you have to make a decision. At my age, you have to make a decision. Somebody a little younger can start up."

The 68-year-old Cox, a four-time Manager of the Year, agreed to a one-year contract extension for 2010, the Braves announced before last night's game against the New York Mets. He will start a five-year consulting agreement to advise the team in baseball operations after he steps down as manager.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Braves slugger Chipper Jones said.

Cox managed the Braves from 1978-81, switched to manage the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982-85, then returned to manage Atlanta in 1990. He led the Braves to five NL pennants and a record 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005.

Still feisty, Cox has been ejected seven times this season, extending his major league record to 150.

BRAVES 5, METS 2

Tim Hudson (2-0) gave up two runs and nine hits over six innings for his second win since major elbow surgery and Adam LaRoche had three hits and two RBIs as visiting Atlanta completed a three-game sweep of New York.

ASTROS 3, CARDINALS 0

Rookie Bud Norris (6-3) gave up six hits over six scoreless innings and three relievers finished the seven-hitter — with Jose Valverde working the ninth for his 28th save — as host Houston delayed St. Louis' run to the Central title.

NATIONALS 5, DODGERS 4

Andre Ethier booted pinch-hitter Pete Orr's fly to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing Justin Maxwell to score as Washington beat Los Angeles. The Dodgers' magic number to clinch a spot in the postseason remained at two.

PADRES 6, ROCKIES 3

Will Venable homered and tied a career high by driving in four runs to help San Diego end Colorado's eight-game home winning streak. The Rockies' lead in the NL wild-card race was whittled to four games over Atlanta and San Francisco.

GIANTS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 2

Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, and Jonathan Sanchez (7-12) gave up two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings as San Francisco gained a game in the NL wild-card race with a victory over Arizona.

MARLINS 7, PHILLIES 6

Jorge Cantu tied it with a single off Brad Lidge (0-8), who blew his major league-leading 11th save opportunity, and pinch-hitter Brett Carroll capped the two-run rally with an RBI single, lifting Florida over the Philadelphia.

BREWERS 3, CUBS 2

Prince Fielder hit his 42nd homer to give him a majors-best 131 RBIs and rookie Chris Narveson (2-0) allowed a run and four hits with 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings, helping host Milwaukee beat Chicago.

REDS 12, PIRATES 2

Joey Votto went 4 for 5 and scored three runs, and Homer Bailey (6-5) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings as visiting Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh, which is 3-22 in its past 25.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

YANKEES 3, ANGELS 2

A.J. Burnett (12-9) gave up two runs, seven hits and struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings for just his second win since July, and Robinson Cano hit a two-run single in a three-run fourth as visiting New York held off Los Angeles.

TIGERS 11, INDIANS 3

Carlos Guillen went deep from both sides of the plate and Rick Porcello (14-9) allowed one run and six hits over five innings as visiting Detroit won its third straight while handing Cleveland its 10th straight loss.

BLUE JAYS 7, ORIOLES 3

Travis Snider homered and had two RBIs, Scott Richmond (7-10) allowed three runs and five hits in five innings, and host Toronto completed a three-game sweep, handing Baltimore its seventh straight loss.

RAYS 5, MARINERS 4

B.J. Upton had three RBIs, including a go-ahead two-run single with the bases-loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Tampa Bay topped Seattle.

TWINS 8, WHITE SOX 6

Brian Duensing (5-1) gave up four runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings to win his fifth straight decision as visiting Minnesota beat Chicago for its ninth victory in the last 10 games.

RED SOX 9, ROYALS 2

David Ortiz hit a three-run homer and a run-scoring single, and Josh Beckett (16-6) allowed two runs and 12 hits over six innings to lift visiting Boston over Kansas City.

RANGERS 9, ATHLETICS 8

Hank Blalock homered and drove in four runs, David Murphy and Marlon Byrd each added a pair of RBIs, and visiting Texas rallied with a four-run fifth for an 8-7 lead in beating Oakland.