Oracle Beats OneWorld for 3-0 Lead in Series

Oracle of San Francisco moved within one victory of the America’s Cup challenger final, defeating Seattle’s OneWorld today off Auckland, New Zealand, for a 3-0 lead in the semifinal repechage.

OneWorld incurred an early penalty for a right-of-way infringement and fouled again when it crossed the start line before the gun.

The errors gave OneWorld little hope of saving the race and preventing Oracle from taking a big lead in a best-of-seven series. It followed Oracle around the 18.5-nautical-mile course and, when it had discharged its penalty at the finish line, trailed by 55 seconds.

Oracle needs one victory to join Alinghi of Switzerland in the final starting Jan. 11.

Oracle’s strongest asset in the series has been its strong defensive performances against a talented opponent in shifty conditions. It showed that quality again today, holding out OneWorld on the last two legs to cross the finish line 23 seconds in front before its rival had completed its penalty.

Baseball

The Arizona Diamondbacks reached agreement on a one-year deal with first baseman Mark Grace.

Terms of the contract, which includes a club option for the 2004 season, were not announced, but Grace was believed to have taken a pay cut from the $3 million he earned last season.

Grace, 38, will serve mainly as a backup to rookie Lyle Overbay, who will play with the Diamondbacks after a highly successful run through the minors.

Cliff Floyd passed his physical, finalizing his $26-million, four-year contract with the New York Mets.

Floyd will get $6.5 million in each season of the deal.

After Norihiro Nakamura’s decision to stay with the Kintetsu Buffaloes, the Mets now will turn their attention to free agents Bill Mueller and Jose Hernandez to fill their third-base hole.

Toronto signed free-agent right-hander Tanyon Sturtze to a $1-million contract for the 2003 season....Rick Ankiel, trying to overcome bouts of wildness, will go to spring training as a reliever for the St. Louis Cardinals after sitting out nearly all of last season because of tendinitis in his left elbow.

Winter Sports

Ruben Feisthauer of Germany led his four-man team to a World Cup bobsled victory at La Plagne, France, with Todd Hays of the United States and Andre Lange of Germany tying for second place.

Austrian Michaela Dorfmeister took advantage of early good course conditions to win a women’s World Cup downhill at Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

Brigitte Obermoser of Austria finished second and Kirsten Clark of the U.S. was third.

Antoine Deneriaz of France won at Val Gardena, Italy, to become the first non-Austrian winner in a World Cup men’s downhill in about a year. Daron Rahlves was the top U.S. finisher in 11th place.

Janne Ahonen of Finland soared 128 meters in his first jump and 132 in the second for 271.5 points and first place in a World Cup ski jumping event at Engelberg, Switzerland.

Miscellany

Thomas H. Wyman, 72, the former CBS chief executive officer who resigned his membership at Augusta National Golf Club to protest its all-male membership, is in intensive care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston because of an abdominal infection.

Golf Digest, citing a friend who’s acting as a spokesman for the family, said Wyman has been in the hospital since Dec. 15. A hospital spokeswoman confirmed that Wyman is in the ICU but wouldn’t disclose any other information.

The Ice Dogs’ winless streak reached seven games as Fresno defeated Long Beach, 3-2, in a West Coast Hockey League shootout at Long Beach Arena.