European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 30, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                27 up 27 Down perfect game As the stars and stripes july 30, 1994 Page 32 by Charles Richards Arlington Texas a just when Kenny Rogers thought head lost his perfect game. Rusty Greer came Rushing in. Rogers pitched the 12th perfect game in modern major league history saved by Greer a diving catch in the ninth inning thursday night in the Texas rangers 4-0 Victory Over the California Angels Rogers admitted he did no to dare think see pages 26,28 and 29 for More baseball about a perfect game until the last inning. As soon As he did it almost ended. Rex Hudler led off the ninth with a slicing liner to right Center. Greer a Rookie Center fielder ran Over and in left his feet and was nearly horizontal when he made a Back handed grab. A i never thought he was going to get it a Rogers said. A i thought that Ball was going to drop no matter what. Then i thought the Ball was going to pop  Greer however was determined to preserve the first perfect game by a Lethander in the american league a i was going to give it my Best Effort whether i caught it or not a Greer said. A no matter what i was going to. Dive. I got a pretty Good jump just Dove and it fell in my glove.�?�. A. Hudler had been just As determined to ruin Rogers hid As he walked to the plate. A i told the  the first few rows that i was going to break it up. 1 told them i was going to Dork him,1�?T. Hudler said. A a i  off the end of my Bat. I said to myself �?~1 worked  but the Ball just kept boating like it was floating on air and 1 said to myself a of no the kid is going to catch it, said a the catch was similar to the one Center fielder Robin Yount made in right Center against Eddie. Murray for the final out in a no hitter. By  for Milwaukee Texas rangers Pitcher Kuinys Rogers is the Center of attention As he leaves the Field after hurling a perfect game thursday. In Baltimore on april 15, 1987, Rogers 11-6 pitched the first perfect game since Dennis Martinez did it for Montreal exactly three years ago in. A 2-0 win Over los Angeles a i Cvet thought about a perfect game. 1 was thinking about the no hitter until the last out a Rogers said. A i just threw strikes. .1 got ahead of a lot of hitters and that helped a lot a he said. A Rusty Greer gosh what can you say after a Guy makes a Eatch like that Quot the last perfect game in the Al was by Mike Witt for the Angels against Texas on sept 30, 1084, the last Day of the sea soil. Rogers struck out eight four swinging and four looking. He went to a three Ball count seven limes including on four straight batters starting with two out in the sixth but retired them All. Rogers got a standing ovation from the crowd of 46,581 at the Ballpark when he took the Mound to Start the ninth. After Hull cry a catch Rogers got the last two outs without much trouble Rytir. Ing Chris Turner on a grounder to shortstop and Gary Disarcina on a routine Fly to  strike could spoil it for record busters Liy Ben Walker Al baseball writer imagine this Tony Gwynn is batting .399, Matt Williams has hit 50 Home runs and Trank t Homas has drawn 125 walks its mid August and All three players arc still on paces to reach baseball a big Marks. A and then a strike a a there Are Guys who have a Chance to break some records a Cincinnati Pitcher Jose Rijo skids a i want to see Guys of our generation with a Chance to break records.�?�. A it could happen this season in one of the games greatest years for offence. That is unless a players strike gets in the Way. N the players have set a strike Date of aug 12, and a walkout that lasted through the world series could wipe out a Cleveland a first postseason appearance in 40 years. A Don Mattingly a first playoff a 41 Feurance after 13 years. A Dave Stewart s last Hurrah in the majors. A i have to set myself aside when i have to think about it a said Mattingly Leader of the first place new York Yankees. A but 1 would be disappointed if we done to play the whole  a a. So might Gwynn who has been Over .390 lately meaning he a just a 5-for-5 game away from reaching ,400. Ted Williams was the last to hit the magic Mark batting .406 in 1941, a a a in a really not thinking about hitting .400 and to be honest in a not thinking about a strike Quot Gwynn said a but. It would be unfortunate if i was around .400 and there was a  while Gwynn has a Chance to make it to .400 before a strike Matt Williams would have Little Chance of reaching the no record of.56 Home runs by Hack Wilson if a strike stopped play for too Long. And Williams Ken Griffey or. And Thomas would have no Hope of challenging Roger Maris record of 61. Quot Chuck Knoblauch can still catch the record of 67 doubles that Earl Webb of the Boston red sox set in 1931. Knoblauch already has 41 doubles and will need every game to have a shot at Webb. A yeah Lve gotten to know a lot about old Earl a Knoblauch said recently. A that would be a lot of doubles. Id probably need to rest a whole year if 1 hit that many.�?�. A a Thomas meanwhile might be Able to break babe Ruth a record of 170 walks in a season. He a also in the Ballpark for Ruth s Mark of 457 total bases although that s a Long Way off. While it would not be a record Jeff Bagwell could become the first no player with 150 Bis since Tommy Davis did it in 1962. With 103 Bis in 102 games for Houston Bagwell was on a Pace for the Sec and highest total in league history Trail ing Only the record of 190 by Wilson in 1930, the year he also set the no Homer Mark. Baseball author Bill James said this season has in some ways been a almost a. Repeat of 1961, one of the Best seasons  a in 1961 they had some something new a expansion. Now its the three division split a James said a then we had Maris chasing Ruth a record. Now we have several people chasing Marisa record. A but it s not just that. I for some reason am having More fun watching Chuck Knoblauch hit a double every Day a he said. A strike could ruin some other players and teams too. The Cleveland ind inns Are bidding for their first postseason since 1954, but there a a Chance that there will be no postseason. Texas is hoping to hang on for its first Ever. Playoff appearance while Colorado has a shot to make it in Only its second season. 246850 000504