Missfire Code P0303 on 1998 Ford Ranger 4.0L V6 - Diagnosis and Fix

I own a 1998 Ford Ranger XLT with a 4.0L engine (not SOHC), approximately 161,000 miles, 4x4 configuration, and 5-speed automatic transmission. A few months ago, during cold starts, the engine ran roughly at idle and the check engine light activated. I had the code scanned at AutoZone, which indicated a misfire on cylinder #3. Upon inspecting the spark plug for cylinder #3, I found that the center electrode was damaged on an otherwise good-looking Bosch platinum plug. I replaced all spark plugs and wires during this process and discovered that the ignition wires for cylinders #4 and #5 were reversed. At the time of inspection, the engine was running smoothly, though it seemed to perform even better after correcting the wire connections. Recently, the engine began exhibiting symptoms similar to a dropped cylinder specifically on cold starts. The issue would resolve itself after driving only a short distance. To test this further, I attempted to clear the fault by briefly increasing RPMs to 1500 for several seconds. Each time, the check engine light reactivated and displayed the same code: misfire on cylinder #3. This pattern repeated three times with consistent results. I am now considering all possible causes and solutions, including ignition system issues, fuel delivery problems, or sensor malfunctions. Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tom Turner