If there¡¯s a home run derby during this year¡¯s All-Star Series, odds are it won¡¯t be half as exciting as the one Wladimir Balentien and Tony Blanco are currently staging on a near-nightly basis during the regular season.
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows¡¯ Balentien, and Blanco, star slugger for the Yokohama BayStars, are currently tied for the most home runs in Japan, with 25 each, and aren¡¯t showing any signs of slowing down.
¡°Everyone when they play the game, they try to do their best,¡± Balentien told the Japan Times. ¡°They try to be the best in the game, and try to do the best they can do. I think it¡¯s a great feeling to be in that situation. But, I¡¯m not going up there trying to hit home runs every time. I have two (home run) titles and the main thing is not to win a title but to win a championship and make myself a better hitter.¡±
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