Wladimir Balentien Sets HR Record In Japan - East Idaho News
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Wladimir Balentien Sets HR Record In Japan

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9 15 13%20Baseball%20A?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1379254448547Denis Poroy/Getty Images(TOKYO) — Yakult Swallows outfielder Wladimir Balentien belted his 56th and 57th homers on Sunday, breaking the single-season home run record of the Nippon Professional Baseball league. The previous mark of 55 was set by former Yomiuri Giants first baseman Sadaharu Oh in 1964.

Playing against the Hanshin Tigers, the 29-year-old Balentien broke the record in the first inning with a three-run homer over the left-field wall at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. Then in the third, he added a solo shot to give him 57 for the season.

Balentien spent three seasons in the Majors from 2007 through 2009 playing for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. He has 15 homers in 511 career at-bats.

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