Teruaki Sato became the first player to reach 30 home runs this season with a shot that reached the second deck at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Friday night.
The home run, which came when he demolished a forkball from Tokyo Yakult Swallows pitcher Hirotoshi Takanashi, was just the latest benchmark for the Hanshin Tigers slugger, who has set himself apart from the crowd this season.
¡°Reaching 30 was one of my goals,¡± Sato said after the game.
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