Wladimir Balentien of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows hit his 49th and 50th home runs Tuesday to move within five of tying Japanese baseball's single-season record.
Balentien hit a three-run homer in the second inning and added a solo shot in the seventh at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. The Chunichi Dragons won the game 10-8.
Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh holds the record of 55 set in 1964 and matched by former major leaguers Tuffy Rhodes in 2001 and Alex Cabrera in 2002.