Just when Kenny Rogers thought he had lost his perfect game, some help came rushing in.

Rogers pitched the 12th perfect game in modern major league history tonight, saved by center fielder Rusty Greer's diving catch in the ninth inning in the Texas Rangers' 4-0 victory over the California Angels.

Rogers said he did not think 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, ran over and in, left his feet and was nearly horizontal when he made a backhanded grab.

"I never thought he was going to get it," Rogers said. "I thought that ball was going to drop, no matter what. Then, I thought the ball was going to pop out."

Greer, however, was determined to preserve the first perfect game by a left-hander in the American League. "I was going to give it my best effort whether I caught it or not," Greer said.