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Corey Patterson may be hurt, but the Chicago Cubs haven't forgotten what the outfielder did to help them get to the NL championship series.

On the disabled list since July 6 with torn ligaments in his left knee, Patterson threw out the first pitch before Game 1 against the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night. Fans gave him a loud, warm reception as he trotted out to the mound, and a few of the Marlins even applauded him, too.

"These fans are great fans, they've been great fans for many years," Patterson said before the game. "And my teammates are still behind me. I know they haven't forgotten about me."

Patterson has been in uniform and in the Cubs dugout for every playoff game. He also was included when the team was introduced before Game 1.

While Patterson is grateful to be included in the Cubs' best postseason run since 1908, he admits it's tough being a spectator.

"It's hard to sit here and watch them play, but I wish the team well," he said. "I know I was an addition to why the team has made it so far. Just as the other players put the effort and time into it, I was part of it as well. That's what you have to tell yourself.

"I helped the team get to where they're at," he added. "I was part of that until I got hurt."

Patterson was hitting .298 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs when he got hurt. He also had five triples and 18 steals.

He was trying to beat out an infield single against the Cardinals when he landed awkwardly on the bag. Though he initially thought he sprained his knee, tests the next day showed he had torn the ACL and cartilage in his left knee.

Patterson hopes to be running again in a month or two, and expects to be ready for spring training.

RATINGS INCREASE: Buoyed by the presence of the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, baseball's division series was the highest rated on network television in eight years.

Fox Sports averaged a 7.5 rating for its five national broadcasts, a 21 percent increase from last season's 6.2. It was the highest rating since 1995.