Wladimir Balentien brought his home run bat to bear on the Central League pennant race as league play resumed in Japan.
Balentien, who leads the CL with 17 homers, hit two over the fence at Nagano Olympic Stadium and drove in four runs to power the visiting Tokyo Yakult Swallows to a 5-3 victory over the newly crowned interleague champion Yomiuri Giants.
Swallows southpaw Katsuki Akagawa (5-4) kept the Giants under wraps, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings to win his second straight start.