Vladimir Guerrero cuts down the Angels

Reporting from Arlington, Texas

You can see it in the vicious cuts he takes and in the way he pumps his fist after delivering a big hit.

No matter what Vladimir Guerrero has said publicly about his departure from the Angels last winter, it’s obvious to his old teammates that the slugger’s pride was a little wounded.

Guerrero hit a run-scoring double in the fourth inning Thursday night and a game-winning RBI single in the eighth to lift the Texas Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Angels at the Ballpark in Arlington.

The designated hitter is batting .313 (20 for 64) with five home runs, five doubles and 16 RBIs in 16 games against the Angels and .302 with 29 homers, 27 doubles and a team-high 114 RBIs on the season, his offense among the primary reasons the Rangers won the American League West.

“Oh yeah, he wants to stick it to us — who wouldn’t?” right fielder Torii Hunter said, when asked if it seemed Guerrero had some extra fire against the Angels. “You can see it. He tries to go deep on every pitch. He has that extra ‘oomph’ against us.”

Guerrero was the focal point of the Angels’ offense for six years, and the AL most valuable player in 2004, but after injuries limited the 35-year-old to 100 games in 2009, the Angels declined to offer him a multi-year deal.

The Angels signed Hideki Matsui to a one-year deal, and he has had a decent season, hitting .272 with 20 homers and 82 RBIs. But he hasn’t had near the impact on the Angels that Guerrero has had on the Rangers.

“He’s obviously had an incredible bounce-back year,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Any time someone is doing something that’s not helping us reach our goal, it’s not pleasant, but he’s a special person who is having a special season.”

Texas left-hander Cliff Lee gave up one unearned run and four hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking none in his final tuneup before his division series Game 1 start, and Neftali Feliz threw a scoreless ninth for his 39th save.

Making strides

Speedy center fielder Peter Bourjos has been nothing short of spectacular on defense since his Aug. 3 promotion to the big leagues, but Thursday night he showed some offensive potential.

Bourjos, who entered with a .188 average, had a bunt single in the third inning, doubled and scored in the sixth and hit a tying solo homer to left off reliever Darren O’Day in the eighth.

“There are still things he needs to clear up, but we’re seeing him make some adjustments,” Scioscia said. “He understands what he needs to do in the big leagues now. He’s bunting more, getting into better hitter’s counts. He’s a work in progress on the offensive side, but what he did tonight is not outside of his potential.”

Hamilton update

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, sidelined since Sept. 4 because of small fractures in a pair of ribs, took batting and fielding practice Thursday and plans to play six innings Friday night against the Angels, his first action since suffering the injury.

Manager Ron Washington said Hamilton probably would start at designated hitter Saturday and in the outfield Sunday in hopes of getting the slugger ready for the playoffs.

Hamilton, who has 31 homers and 97 RBIs, leads the major leagues in batting (.361) and slugging percentage (.635), and his health will be a key factor in how deep Texas goes into the postseason.

Short hops

The Angels have agreed to a two-year contract with the Class-A Inland Empire 66ers of the California League, ending their affiliation with Rancho Cucamonga. The 66ers play their home games at Arrowhead Credit Union Park in San Bernardino. … Reynaldo Ruiz, a 17-year-old outfielder who hit .125 in 15 games for the Angels’ Dominican Summer League team, was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a metabolite of Boldenone. The suspension will start next season.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com