ANAHEIM, Calif. – The only things missing Thursday afternoon were pitchers running in the outfield during the game and Arizona sunshine. Other than that, it could have been any spring training game.

Fortunately, Kevin Millwood didn't pitch like it, and the Rangers, snapping out of a four-game losing streak, finally played like it meant something.

And it did. Depending on the outcome of the Seattle-Oakland game later in the evening, the Rangers' 11-3 victory over the Angels might have clinched second place in the AL West for the Rangers. At the least, it assured them of no worse than a tie for second.

Exactly how much does finishing second mean, Ron Washington?

"Everything."

Take his word for it.

In a game in which both teams liberally sprinkled their lineups with rookies and backups for different reasons, the Rangers' bats finally woke up with 15 hits, and they at least salvaged the finale of what began Monday as their last-gasp hope for a miracle finish.

The miracle vanished in the bitter dust of an 11-0 Angels' victory in that first game, and the Rangers simply failed to show up in two subsequent losses, including being one-hit and shut out Wednesday for the second time in three games.

Thursday, the sting of being eliminated finally settling in, they remembered there were still games to play, including three with the Mariners this weekend at Safeco Field.

Millwood pitched like .... well, like a $12 million dollar pitcher.

"We still have a little bit to play for," Millwood said. "We get paid to win ballgames, and that's how we have to approach it.

"Nobody likes to lose. This place has been pretty miserable the last three days. Getting a win today was pretty important for us."

But this was an important game for Millwood, too, if for no other reason than it allowed him to finish the season with a three-game winning streak, all quality starts, hopefully soothing fans' fears that he won't be worth the $12 million contract he vested when he tossed his 180th inning two starts ago.

If he keeps pitching like this, it'll be a downright bargain. Millwood tossed a complete-game seven-hitter, striking out 10 while walking just one. He finished the season with a 3.67 ERA, the first sub-4.00 ERA by a Rangers starter since Kenny Rogers (3.46) in 2005 and first by a right-hander since Ken Hill (3.63) in 1996.

It was Millwood's third complete game of the season and it was obvious he intended to finish what he started.

"I didn't want to leave," he said. "This was the last chance I had to play for a long time, so I wanted to stay out there as long as I could."

Washington had no problem with that.

"He went out there in that ninth inning and was just cool as he could be," Washington said. "He's got his confidence back and he's back to where he wants to be. He just pounded the strike zone."

Blalock looks ahead: It hasn't escaped Hank Blalock's notice that he is coming down to what will almost certainly be his final days with the only major league team he's ever known.

But don't look for any tears in his eyes at the prospect.

"My whole life I've never been the sentimental type," Blalock said. "I've always thought the best approach is to live in the present and try to move forward."

Blalock, who was out of the lineup Thursday recovering from a mild concussion suffered in a collision with teammate Derek Holland Wednesday night, can be a free agent at the end of the season, and it's clear that the Rangers will not attempt to re-sign him.

"We probably won't," Washington said. "I just don't see playing time for him. Hank needs to be somewhere where he can be productive, and that means he needs to play."

With Chris Davis entrenched at first base and the Rangers looking to cut costs, they're not likely to spend big bucks on a DH.

"Nothing's been said, but the writing's on the wall that I won't be here next year," Blalock said. "I'll move on. I've never been a free agent before. I'll just have to see where I want to go."

Playing mostly part time, Blalock is hitting .235 with 25 homers and 66 RBIs.

PETA is after Vizquel: Omar Vizquel's desire to try bullfighting in Venezuela this winter has landed him on PETA's hit list.

PETA announced Thursday that assistant director Dan Shannon has sent the Rangers' utility infielder an urgent letter, pleading with him to give up his bullfighting plans and to "please leave animal abuse out of your midlife crisis."

"Participating in cruel and ludicrous activities overseas – activities that are illegal in the U.S. – won't help Vizquel or the Rangers win over any fans here at home," Shannon wrote.