Wladimir Balentien had his second-straight two-homer game on Thursday as the last-place Tokyo Yakult Swallows hammered the Central League-leading Yomiuri Giants 8-3.
Trailing by a run in the fourth, Balentien singled in the Swallows' five-run inning, which was highlighted by Ryoji Aikawa's three-run homer. Balentien's 45th home run, a two-run shot in the fifth off Giants right-hander Hirokazu Sawamura (4-8) set Yakult's single-season record.
"To have my name in history is a good feeling, but a better feeling is winning the game," Balentien said. "I was looking for a pitch I could drive. It was a fastball, a little low, but I put a good swing on it."