"The Angels were unwilling to give Vladimir Guerrero the salary (or years) he wanted in a new contract last fall. So he has spent the summer making them pay in a different way.

Guerrero drove in one run with a double in the fourth inning and the winning run with a single in the eighth inning as the new AL West champions handed the dethroned Angels a 3-2 defeat Thursday night.

For Guerrero, the RBIs were his 113th and 114th - sixth in the majors, fourth in the American League and first among players who changed teams this past off-season (trumping Adrian Beltre). Not entirely a coincidence, he will be playing in the post-season next week for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. The Angels will not and Thursday's loss guaranteed their run of six consecutive winning seasons will also end.

Privately, Angels' officials defend their decision not to re-sign the 35-year-old Guerrero after injuries bit into his Hall of Fame production the past two seasons. Publicly, though, it has been obvious the prideful Guerrero has carried extra motivation in trying to make the Angels regret their decision.

"Oh yeah - he wants to stick it (to the Angels)," Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said. "Who wouldn't, though, when a team lets you go?

"I'm pretty sure he loved the Angels - when he played for the Angels - and the Angels loved him. ... But you can see it. He's trying to go deep every time."

Guerrero came out of the cradle looking to go deep. But in 16 games against the Angels this season, he has batted .313 (20 for 64), seeming to make each of those hits count - five home runs, five doubles and 16 RBI. Two more RBI before the weekend is out and Guerrero will have done more damage against the Angels than any other Rangers opponent this season (he has 17 against the A's).

"He's obviously had an unbelievable bounceback year," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "You can't help but wish Vlad well. ... On a personal level with Vlad, this guy is one of the best and he's having a bounceback season to remember.

"Any time someone is preventing you from getting to your goal, it's not pleasant. But, Vlad is a special person. He's come back and he's had a special season."

Peter Bourjos had a pretty special night for the Angels, falling just a triple shy of becoming the first Angel to hit for the cycle since Chone Figgins in 2006. Bourjos had a bunt single in the third inning (then stole second and went to third on a throwing error by catcher Bengie Molina). In the sixth, he doubled and went to third when centerfielder Julio Borbon momentarily bobbled the ball off the wall. Then in the eighth, he hit a solo home run that temporarily tied the game."