PERFECT ENDING ANGELS WIN, WILL OPEN PLAYOFFS AT HOME VS. YANKEES REGULAR-SEASON FINALE: ANGELS 7, TEXAS 4.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas - A game that figured to mean very little a few days ago turned out to be big for the Angels.

With a 7-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday afternoon at Ameriquest Field, the Angels secured home- field advantage against the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, which will start Tuesday in Anaheim.

The Angels needed, and got, a three-game sweep of the Rangers, and also needed Boston to beat the Yankees on Sunday.

``Considering what we had to balance in with our priorities, we did a heckuva job,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We accomplished what we wanted to. We got guys rested and we got home field. Everything had to fall into place perfectly and it did.''

Pitcher Ervin Santana, who finished his rookie season 12-8, gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings to finish the season strong, winning each of his final four starts.

``His talent is real, but getting the chance to grow with the experience he was getting was very important,'' Scioscia said. ``After the first six or eight starts when he'd have one good game and one bad game, he settled in. He changed things with his pitch selection and made the adjustments experience can teach you if you pay attention. And he certainly is.''

Scioscia said he'll reveal his pitching rotation today, but he is likely to go with Jarrod Washburn in Game 3 in New York, following Games 1 and 2 starters Bartolo Colon and John Lackey in Anaheim. Either Paul Byrd or Santana will start Game 4 in New York.

Offensively, the Angels got a three-run home run from Juan Rivera and two stolen bases from Chone Figgins, giving Figgins the most in the majors this season with 62.

``I went around personally and thanked all my teammates for letting me accomplish something like this,'' said Figgins, who also finished as the team leader in hits (186) and runs scored (113).

The Angels' big three in the bullpen - Brendan Donnelly, Scot Shields and Francisco Rodriguez - combined for three scoreless innings to finish it off and got the necessary work in to be ready for Tuesday's opener.

--Notes:The Angels are a lot more confident entering the playoffs this season compared to last season, when they were swept by the Red Sox. Last season, the Angels clinched the division on the second-to-last day of the season. This year, they clinched with five games remaining, allowing them to set up their pitching rotation and rest many of the regulars.

``The whole lineup's much stronger,'' Scioscia said. ``We were missing guys the end of last year. We didn't have (second baseman) Adam (Kennedy, knee surgery), or (left fielder) Jose (Guillen, suspended by team), (third baseman Dallas) McPherson was inexperienced. One of our best lineups was (Alfredo) Amezaga at second and (Chone) Figgins at third. I think we're in better shape now than we had been at any point toward the end of last year.''

Joe Haakenson, [phone]

joe.haakenson(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(color) Angels second baseman Chone Figgins, right, and catcher Jose Molina share a high-five after a 7-4 victory over Texas on Sunday to end the regular season.

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Box:

(1) SEASON TO REMEMBER

(2) ALDS SCHEDULE