Mitch Dening's two-run home run put the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in front for good on Thursday in a 5-3 win over the Yomiuri Giants that prevented the hosts from being swept.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Dening came up with one out and a runner on first and went deep to center field off Giants starter Tomoyuki Sugano (8-7) to put Yakult in front at Jingu Stadium with his fourth homer of the year.
"We lost the last two games, so we needed to win this one," said the Australian who was signed this season out of independent ball. "I put good contact on the ball. I haven't played well the last few days, so I thought I had a double, but because it's Jingu it kept flying."