MINNEAPOLIS - Raptors forward Patrick Patterson is expected to miss at least 7-10 days to rest a ligament injury in his right elbow, the team announced ahead of its game against the Timberwolves Sunday night. It is unclear exactly when Patterson originally sustained the injury, an ulnar collateral sprain to his shooting elbow, but after aggravating it in Fridays win over Sacramento the Raptors medical and coaching staff have decided to shut him down for the time being. "Its never a good time to lose a guy like him because he has been so important to us, offensively and defensively," Dwane Casey said, just over an hour before tip-off at The Target Center. "Its a big [loss] because of how he stretches the floor and the things he brings to the table." Patterson, acquired in a trade from Sacramento on Dec. 9, leads Raptors reserves in scoring, averaging 9.7 points in 39 games with Toronto this season. Playing a minute (per game) less than he was with the Kings prior to the trade, Patterson is averaging nearly three more points, shooting 49 per cent, up from 41 in Sacramento. Hes also grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game and shooting the three-ball at a 44 per cent clip. "Its tough, the way hes been shooting the ball, the way hes been rebounding the ball," said John Salmons. "[He] gives us that dimension coming off the bench. As a big, [he] kind of changes the opposing teams mindsets when he comes in because hes a different player from Amir (Johnson) and [Jonas Valanciunas]. Its definitely a tough loss for us." The fourth-year forward will be re-evaluated in about a week and the team is hopeful that hell be available to return shortly after that. In the meantime, Tyler Hansbrough figures to absorb most of the 23 minutes Patterson was playing nightly. Bruiser Chuck Hayes and sharpshooter Steve Novak will also be in the mix, depending on match ups. "Everybody stays prepared and guys have done a good job of staying prepared," Casey said, "but [the] next guy up has got to be ready to step in and take up those minutes and produce. "Patricks been a big part of that, that depth at that position," he continued. "For the second unit, the energy he brings to the table, his shooting, his defence, his rebounding, just his overall intensity it really adds a lot to that second unit, which is huge. But again, we still have some other quality guys. Tyler Hansbroughs played a lot of playoff games, Steve Novak is one of our best shooters. So we have different guys that can step in and give us something different. So now is an opportunity." Cheap Shoes Black Friday . Ferrer, the two-time defending champion in Buenos Aires, is aiming to win his 21st ATP tournament. Ferrer will next face fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, the fourth seed, who defeated Jeremy Chardy of France 7-6 (7), 6-3 in another quarterfinal match. 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One swing of the bat provides all the offence needed. Not a very flashy way to win, but its working for the Tampa Bay Rays. Alex Cobb went seven innings on Saturday, extending Tampa Bays run of solid starting pitching, and James Loney homered for a 1-0 victory over the slumping Cincinnati Reds. The Rays came into the interleague series with a 1-8 mark against Cincinnati. Theyve taken the first two games with their simple formula. "We hit some balls well, they hit some balls well, their defence played great also," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "So just one of those days, man. We hit a homer and we win." Cobb (1-1) pitched seven shutout inning against Texas on Sunday but got a no-decision. He kept the scoreless streak going Saturday, limiting Cincinnatis struggling lineup to four hits without walking a batter. Hes now gone 15 1-3 innings without allowing a run. Grant Balfour, who fanned Brayan Pena with the bases loaded to end Friday nights game, got three outs for his fourth save in as many chances, finishing off the four-hitter. Cincinnati stranded a pair at third base and had runners thrown out at third and home, extending its run of wasteful offence. The Reds have lost all four of their series this season, falling to 3-8 for the first time since 1995, when they won the NL Central. They had a brief team meeting after the game. "It was just a friendly reminder of what weve got here and who we are as a team," Pena said. "It was a very positive meeting. The skipper (Bryan Price) got involved." Loney led off the second inning with his first homer against Alfredo Simon (1-1), who matched his career high with eight innings and allowed only five hits. The Rays opened the series with a 2-1 win Friday night, when David Price took a shutout into the ninth before Joey Votto homered with one out. Rays starters have thrown at least seven shutout innings four times in the last six games. It was Tampa Bays second shutout of the season, and the second time the Reds have been shut out. The Reds also were blanked 1-0 by the CCardinals on opening day.dddddddddddd Both managers changed their lineups, looking for some runs. The Rays have scored only nine in their last six games, but managed to win three of them because of the impressive pitching. The Reds have scored 28 runs all season, second-fewest in the National League. Maddon stocked his lineup with left-handers against Simon. Price moved Votto from third to second in the batting order, the first time hed batted second since 2008. Neither move made much of a difference. Nice defence by both teams also kept it close. Votto led off the fourth with a ground-rule double. Kevin Kiermaier threw out Votto at the plate as he tried to score on Brandon Phillips single to centre. Phillips went to second on the play and was thrown out trying to steal third. "Kiermaiers throw today was the play of the game, the play of the season so far," Maddon said. "Hes an exceptional outfielder. Hes among the best major league outfielders today and hes only played one game here in the regular season." Kiermaier was optioned back to Triple-A Durham after the game, as expected. His throw home in the fourth was a good way to leave. "I wanted to come up here and contribute any way I could," said Kiermaier, who was called up Friday and told hed be in the majors for only a couple of days. "For me to throw Votto out at home, especially in a 1-0 game, just made it that much better. It was a pivotal time in the game." The Reds wasted another chance in the sixth, when Zack Cozart was hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch and a sacrifice. Billy Hamilton hit a shallow fly and Votto grounded out. NOTES: LHP Erik Bedard was added to the Rays roster following the game. ... LHP Cesar Ramos moves from the bullpen to the rotation on Sunday, taking the place of injured Matt Moore. Ramos will make his fourth career start. Reds LHP Tony Cingrani makes his first career appearance against the Rays. ... Reds RHP Mat Latos had an MRI on his pitching forearm. It bothered him during a throwing session the previous day. Latos is trying to recover from surgery to repair torn knee cartilage on Feb. 14. ' ' '