Justin Rose shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead through three rounds of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Thousand Palms, Calif. Rose went to 18-under 198. Scott Verplank shot a 68 and was second. Phil Mickelson, the 2002 and 2004 Hope champion, had a 69. He was 7 under.
– Outfielder Trot Nixon agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract with the Indians. Nixon batted .268 with eight homers and 52 RBIs in 114 games with the Red Sox last season. . . . The Padres and David Wells’ agent agreed in principle to a $3 million, one-year deal. Wells went 1-2 with a 3.49 ERA in five starts for the Padres before losing Game 2 of the division series against the Cardinals. . . . Right-hander Shawn Chacon agreed to a one-year contract worth $3,825,000 with the Pirates. Chacon, who split last season between the Yankees and Pirates, was a combined 7-6 with a 6.36 ERA. . . . Former White Sox infielder Tony Graffanino and the Brewers agreed to a $3.25 million, one-year contract.
– Cory Larose and Kevin Doell each scored two goals and had an assist as the Wolves snapped a season-worst five-game losing streak and defeated the Peoria Rivermen 6-1 at Carver Arena.
– Alexander Tretiakov of Russia captured his first World Cup skeleton in Igls, Austria, in 1 minute 47.91 seconds. World Cup leader Zach Lund of the United States finished fifth. . . . Anja Huber of Germany ended American Katie Uhlaender’s unbeaten streak in the women’s event. Uhlaender had won the four previous events.
