MLB: Manny apologizes

Manny Ramirez apologized to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt during a meeting to discuss his 50-game suspension for using a banned drug.

Next, the slugger might face his teammates in the next few days.

McCourt said Ramirez called him and the two met Saturday, two days after the 12-time All-Star began serving a penalty imposed by Major League Baseball.

“I wanted to meet him face to face,” McCourt said. “He started off the meeting by apologizing and acknowledging the disappointment that he’s created — not only for me but for others.”

* All-Star closer Joakim Soria has been placed on the Royals’ 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury.

TENNIS: Djokovic wins at home

In Belgrade, Serbia, top-seeded Novak Djokovic beat Lukasz Kubot in the Serbia Open final to win the first ATP Tour tournament held in his home country.

* In Oerias, Portugal, Albert Montanes defeated American James Blake to win the Estoril Open title. . . . In Madrid, Jelena Jankovic beat Nuria Llagostera to reach the second round of the Madrid Open, a joint ATP and WTA Tour tournament. . . . The French tennis federation called a report that Richard Gasquet tested positive for cocaine “very surprising” and will wait for official confirmation before taking any action.

CYCLING: Lance gains ground

In Trieste, Italy, Lance Armstrong gained time on his rivals again at the Giro d’Italia, yet the seven-time Tour de France winner still maintains he has no designs on winning the three-week race.

Alessandro Petacchi edged Mark Cavendish to win the second stage in a mass sprint and Cavendish retained the overall leader’s pink jersey.

ETC.: U.S. falls to Sweden

In Bern, Switzerland, the United States failed to hold an early lead and lost to Sweden 4-2 in the bronze medal game at the hockey world championship. Russia successfully defended its gold medal, beating Canada 2-1 in a rematch of last year’s final.

* Brazilian Raphael Matos was the fastest driver in second-day qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. The Indy rookie posted a four-lap average of 223.429 mph on the historic 2.5-mile Brickyard oval and will start 12th in the May 24 race.