SURPRISE, Ariz. – Kevin Millwood walked the final batter he faced in a simulated game Wednesday and begged pitching coach Mark Connor to let him pitch to one more hitter.

"I didn't want to end like that, but that's all right," Millwood said. "I think I got more than six outs anyway."

Millwood tested his sore right hamstring pitching to live hitters for the first time this spring. He achieved his main goal: getting through the two-inning session without any pain. Millwood said he did that.

G.J. McCARTHY / DMN

Pitcher Kevin Millwood (right) was 10-14 last season with the Texas Rangers with a 5.16 ERA

The Rangers' No. 1 starter threw 38 pitches (22 strikes) to Julio Borbon, Brandon Boggs, John Mayberry Jr. and German Duran. Max Ramirez was the catcher. Millwood had three strikeouts, two walks and gave up two hits.

He threw all his pitches, worked some from the stretch and spent most of his second inning working on his fastball at the behest of Connor. It was a controlled environment, so Millwood didn't have any fielders behind him and was given a five-minute break to simulate an inning change.

"It was big-time important, probably one of the most important days so far in spring," said manager Ron Washington, who watched Millwood carefully along with general manager Jon Daniels. "To go out there, work on his pitches and walk off that mound smiling and feeling good about himself was good."

Millwood didn't make any throws to first or run off the mound to get any choppers. He'll go through fielding drills Sunday, and if all goes well is scheduled to make his first start in a spring game Monday against the Padres at Peoria.

Francisco scare: RHP Frank Francisco stepped awkwardly on the mound as he pitched with two outs in the top of the eighth against the Brewers on Wednesday. Washington, Connor and trainer Jamie Reed rushed out to check on him. Francisco threw some warm-up pitches, still had good velocity and stayed in the game, getting his final batter to ground out. "I think it scared him more than anything, but he's fine," Washington said.

Catching rotation altered: For the first week of spring training games, Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia alternated days behind the plate. Starting today, Washington said he'll play both catchers in the same game for most of the remaining spring games. The two will alternate starts, with Laird getting the nod with Vicente Padilla on the hill today in Tucson. "This should give us a chance to get some rhythm at the plate," Saltalamacchia said.

Bradley's schedule: Washington said outfielder Milton Bradley will bat leadoff as a DH in several innings of minor league games to get some at-bats against live pitching. That could happen as soon as March 12 with the hope that Bradley would DH over the weekend (March 15-16) in a regular spring game. "There's nothing I want to rush with Milt," Washington said. "I want him to be right. If he's right, he'll be productive." Washington also thinks Bradley will play the outfield before the team leaves Surprise.

Briefly: 3B Hank Blalock, still sore from a car accident Monday, sat out workouts and the game on Wednesday. He won't play until Friday at the earliest, when he could DH. ... Kazuo Fukumori said he didn't throw his curveball or four-seam fastball in his inning of work. He's easing in and may try to throw them Saturday. ... RHP Wes Littleton returned to camp after tending to an illness in his family. ... Scott Feldman is also expected to pitch in today's game.