"Torii Hunter has missed the playoffs just twice in the last eight seasons. So entering the third week of September with nothing to play for but pride isn't something he's accustomed to.

"It's tough," Hunter said Tuesday, before Shelly Duncan drove in four runs with a pair of homers to lift the dreadful Cleveland Indians to a 4-3 win over his Angels. "I don't even know what to do with myself. In my mind, I still feel like we've got a chance. Maybe because for so many years I was just always in a race."

There was certainly no race to be won Tuesday, not with the Angels falling four games below .500 and the Indians on pace for their worst record in two decades. And after drawing a "crowd" generously announced at 15,734, Cleveland is last in the majors in attendance too.

"With the atmosphere it kind of felt like it was a spring training game," said Angels starter Scott Kazmir, who pitched well into the sixth inning again but still wound up with his ninth loss in his last 10 decisions. "It felt like it was just dead."

The Indians haven't been this bad nor drawn crowds this small since Charlie Sheen pitched for them in "Major League." And when your own team is going nowhere as well, that can make it doubly difficult to stay focused on the game.

"Regardless, you come out, do your job. You still want to succeed and you still want to win," said Hunter, who had two hits Tuesday, doubling in a run in the first and then singling and getting thrown at the plate trying to tie the score five innings later. "You've got to provide your own energy. It's almost like instructional league."

But regardless of where the Angels finish in the standings, this will go down as a memorable season for Hunter, who has been nominated for both the Marvin Miller and Roberto Clemente awards, baseball's top two community service prizes.

"We're talking about life. Giving back, helping others and not just receiving all the time," the Angels outfielder said. "When I can do that, just give back and other people recognize that, maybe it inspires them to go out and do the same. I'm happier with that then I am with [being an] All-Star. No doubt.""