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Torre named LA Dodgers manager

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday hired Joe Torre as their new manager.

Torre's hiring came a week after he rejected a reduced monetary and short-term offer to continue managing the New York Yankees, and just days after the Dodgers and former skipper Grady Little parted ways in an awkward split.

Reports said the Dodgers spoke of negotiating with Torre while Little was still under contract.

"Few managers in the history of the game have accomplished what Joe has delivered," said Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti. "Throughout his career he has demonstrated the ability to turn a vision for success into results on the field and we welcome his passion and leadership."

The Dodgers disappointed last season with an 82-80 record, good for fourth place in the National League West, while the Yankees lost in the first round of the American League playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Torre, 67, who guided the Yankees to four World Series titles and 12 straight post-season appearances, will be introduced at a news conference Monday at Dodger Stadium.

Nalbandian again surprises Federer

PARIS, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Argentina's David Nalbandian Thursday again beat world No. 1 Roger Federer, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), in the third round of the Masters Cup tournament in Paris.

It was Nalbandian's second straight victory against the Swiss great in 10 days after his 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in the title match of the Open de Madrid Oct. 21.

In other action, second-seeded Rafael Nadal easily beat Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 6-3; unseeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus ousted fourth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 6-2; sixth-seeded American James Blake dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to 10th-seeded Richard Gasquet of France; eighth-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo topped No. 11 seed Guillermo Canas of Argentina 7-5, 7-5; 15th-seeded Andy Murray of Scotland beat unseeded Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 6-2; and fifth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain trounced 12th-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2.

Their losses mean neither Blake nor Berdych will qualify for the for the season-ending championship tournament at Shanghai. Blake was a finalist last season.

Davydenko, the defending tournament champion who has been the subject of a match-throwing incident, struggled with his serve Thursday. He committed 10 double faults and was broken five times during the match. The umpire took the unusual step of questioning Davydenko about the quality of his serves.

J.P. Hayes leads on PGA Tour

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- J.P. Hayes, needing to make the cut this week to secure an exemption onto the 2008 PGA Tour, took the lead Thursday at the Children's Miracle Network Classic.

Hayes fired a 7-under 65 in the opening round to lead Cameron Beckman, Scott Verplank and Ryuji Imada by one shot. Woody Austin, coming off his recent success at the Presidents Cup, was among those tied at 67.

Hayes is currently 123rd on the tour's money list and only the top 125 earn a spot on next year's exempt list.

He birdied the first two holes at the Walt Disney World Resort's Magnolia Course and began the back nine with two straight birdies as well.

The opening round was played in windy conditions after rain had swept through the area.

"The conditions are just very sloppy," Verplank said. "It's fairly windy, so it is a little tougher than we're used to around here."

Austin was joined in a fifth place tie by Justin Leonard, Jeffrey Overton, Dicky Pride, Tag Ridings, Jason Schultz, Tim Clark and Vaughn Taylor.

Chicago eliminates United in MLS playoffs

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Chad Barrett and Chris Rolfe scored first-half Chicago goals Thursday and the Fire held on to advance in the MLS playoffs by playing D.C. United to a 2-2 draw.

Chicago moved into the Eastern Conference finals with a 3-2 aggregate margin in the two playoff games with United.

Barrett scored in the 31st minute and Rolfe produced a goal two minutes later by sneaking between two defenders deep in the box and putting a volley past goalkeeper Troy Perkins.

Now holding a 3-0 advantage in the series, the Fire settled into a defensive mode in the second half and had to fight off a United comeback. Clyde Simms scored in the 69th minute and Christian Gomez in the 74th.

With the home crowd chanting and waving flags, United attacked time and again during the closing minutes. An apparent United goal in extra time by Christian Gomez was waved off because of a handball violation.

Chicago will meet the winner of the New York-New England matchup in the conference finals.