Angels put pitching ace Colon on DL

The Los Angeles Angels placed righthander Bartolo Colon, the AL's reigning Cy Young Award winner, on the disabled list with inflammation in his pitching shoulder. The move was made before last night's game in Minnesota and was retroactive to Sunday, when Colon lost to Baltimore. Righthander Hector Carrasco will take Colon's turn in the rotation today. Colon (0-2) gave up only one earned run in seven innings against the Orioles, but has gone three starts without a victory, and his ERA is 7.07. Twins physician John Steubs examined him Tuesday night at the Metrodome, and Colon had an MRI yesterday that revealed the inflammation . . . Nomar Garciaparra's long-awaited debut with the Dodgers may come as soon as Saturday. The team sent the converted first baseman on a two-day minor league rehab assignment with Triple A Las Vegas. The plan is to let Garciaparra play about six innings tonight and get at least three at-bats, then play for a longer stretch tomorow night. ''He hasn't felt any pain whatsoever, and that's why we're turning him loose," manager Grady Little said . . . Jimmy Serrano scattered five hits over six innings, Manny Delcarmen fanned two in two shutout innings, and lefthander Mike Holtz struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth as the Pawtucket Red Sox blanked the Durham Bulls, 6-0, last night in Durham, N.C. . . . At Portland, Maine, Kason Gabbard surrendered seven runs in 3 1/3 innings and the Sea Dogs fell, 7-3, to New Britain.

Allen Iverson and Chris Webber apologized for their actions Tuesday night, when they didn't arrive at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia until just before tip-off and then didn't sit on the bench during the 76ers' final home game, a victory over New Jersey. Iverson and Webber were on the bench in the first quarter for the 76ers' game at Charlotte last night, although Iverson returned to the locker room in the second quarter. Coach Maurice Cheeks blamed Tuesday's episode on a lack of communication. ''I definitely wasn't trying to disrespect Mo in any way, or the fans, as everybody is talking about," Iverson said. ''I've been here for 10 years, and to deliberately try to disrespect the fans, I would never try to do that in any way. I'm upset it came across that way." Team officials also said they should have informed the media and fans the two stars would not play because of injuries on Fan Appreciation Night in Philadelphia . . . A relative of Iverson's was one of three juveniles arrested April 12 in Conshohocken, Pa., after police found drugs and guns in a car registered to the 76ers' star, authorities said. Authorities believe Iverson, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, may have given or loaned the car, a 2005 Ford Mustang, to the relative.

As expected, Gonzaga All-American Adam Morrison officially declared for the NBA Draft, passing up his senior season for a chance to be a lottery pick. The 6-foot-8-inch floppy-haired, mustachioed forward, who led Division 1 in scoring last season at 28.1 points per game, is a diabetic and said uncertainty over his future health prospects was a factor in his decision . . . California star forward Leon Powe also declared for the NBA Draft but does not plan to sign with an agent immediately, giving him the option to return to the Golden Bears for his junior season . . . NBA Entertainment president Adam Silver was appointed to the role of deputy commissioner, replacing Russ Granik as the league's No. 2 man behind David Stern . . .LSU star Seimone Augustus, the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft earlier this month, signed with the Minnesota Lynx.

Bruce Arena thinks the United States men's soccer team is on equal footing with some of the world's top teams as the Americans prepare for the World Cup. ''Are we ready yet to win a World Cup? I don't think so, but I think we're ready to compete with the best countries in the world. We've demonstrated that," the US coach said. ''My expectations are very similar to 2002. Our goals are to advance. If we can do that, and get to the round of 16, anything can happen." The US rose to an all-time high fourth in the FIFA world rankings, trailing only Brazil, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands . . . Kolo Toure's first goal of the season gave Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Villarreal in the opening match of its two-leg Champions League soccer semifinal in England . . . The British government is giving English soccer fans attending the World Cup in Germany some helpful hints, including translations of phrases like, ''Can I have a beer, please?" The British Foreign Office's translation tips are contained in a pocket-size map and instruction guide to Germany entitled ''Avoiding Penalties." Other phrases included, ''Can I have another beer, please?" and ''May I pitch my tent in your back garden?" Approximately 100,000 England fans are expected to travel to Germany for the June event.

Although he might have a better chance if he were on his bicycle, Lance Armstrong told the Associated Press that he plans to run in the New York City Marathon Nov. 5. ''I've been training some, but I wouldn't call it serious. It's just something to fill a void in my life after I quit competing as a professional cyclist," Armstrong said . . . Yaroslav Popovych won the second stage of the Tour de Georgia at Athens by 5.3 seconds to give his Discovery Channel team the overall lead as Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, rode in the Discovery car . . . An internal investigation by the Austrian ski federation found no evidence that banned Olympic coach Walter Mayer was behind any coordinated doping effort at the Turin Games, Austrian media reported . . . According to the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, the fired manager of former World Boxing Association welterweight champion Jose Antonio Rivera has filed suit claiming Rivera broke a written and verbal contract stating he'd be Rivera's manager throughout his boxing career. Steven Tankanow, Rivera's manager for 13 years, is seeking one-third of Rivera's future purses . . . Kermit Cintron stopped David Estrada at 1:13 of the 10th round to win the International Boxing Federation welterweight elimination title bout at West Palm, Fla.