eaua was fined 64,500 e
eaua was fined 64,500 e
TOKYO -- Former major leaguer Wladimir Balentien hit his 56th and 57th home runs on Sunday, breaking the Japanese single-season record set by legendary slugger Sadaharu Oh 49 years ago. Balentien hit the record-breaking three-run homer in the first inning of Sundays game, sending the ball over the left-field wall at Tokyos Jingu Stadium to give his Yakult Swallows an early lead over the Hanshin Tigers. He then added a solo shot in the third for No. 57 to help the Swallows to a 9-0 win. Oh set the mark of 55 in 1964. While it was equaled by ex-major leaguers Tuffy Rhodes in 2001 and Alex Cabrera in 2002, many felt Oh used his position as a manager to prevent both players from breaking it. "I want to thank the fans for all their support," Balentien said. "It was a great feeling. I dont think I will ever feel anything like that again in my life." The 29-year-old Balentien missed the first 12 games of this season because of a leg injury sustained while playing for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. Balentiens challenge of Ohs record comes in a season in which there is controversy over attempts to reform the game to make it more exciting. In June, Japanese baseball officials admitted they introduced a new official ball this season without notifying players. The new ball has resulted in a dramatic increase in home runs. Rhodes and Cabrera tied Ohs record with several games left in the season but were then walked repeatedly by teams managed by Oh, who later denied instructing his pitchers to not challenge either player. Randy Bass hit 54 homers in 1985 but fell short in the last game of the season when the pitcher from the Yomiuri Giants, then managed by Oh, walked him in his last at-bat, preventing Bass from tying the record. Oh is a legend in Japan. His 868 career home runs, which surpassed Hank Aarons then major league record of 755, made him a national hero. "Oh is the home run king and I have a lot of respect for him," Balentien said. "To be able to tie him and then pass him is something very special for me." The single-season home run record is also highly regarded, and former New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui wore No. 55 in recognition of it. The closest Matsui came to breaking Ohs record was 50 homers in 2002, when he played for the Giants. The 73-year-old Oh is no longer actively involved in Japanese baseball and serves as an honorary chairman of the Softbank Hawks, the team he managed when Rhodes and Cabrera were attempting to break his record. Oh has often said he has no problem with his record being broken as long as its done by a wide margin and not just one or two homers. Balentien has 17 games left to add to his tally. Balentien, a native of Curacao, played for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds before signing with the Swallows in 2011. He hit a Central League-leading 31 homers in each of his first two seasons in Japan. Cheap Air Max Plus Wholesale .com) - Minnesota Vikings fans would surely concede Teddy Bridgewater is not Peyton Manning. Air Max Plus Uk Clearance . The Italian side scored twice in a four-minute span in the second half to defeat former stars from S. http://www.airmaxplusuk.com/. The first of the three games will be played in Week 4, when the Oakland Raiders will take on the Miami Dolphins on Sept. Air Max Plus Uk Sale . Peter Dawson took his long before he started the job. "I was playing an American one year at Oxford Golf Club, and he introduced me to this travelling mulligan," Dawson said. Air Max Plus Uk . -- Chicago manager Darold Butler has a message for the Windy City.NYON, Switzerland - Ludogorets Razgrad must play Real Madrid in its Champions League group-stage home debut with a stadium section closed because of fans racist behaviour. UEFA says its disciplinary panel imposed sanctions after incidents when Ludogorets eliminated Steaua Bucharest in a playoff last week. Steaua was also punished for fans racist behaviour and must play a Europa League match in an empty stadium. Ludogorets hossts Madrid on Oct.dddddddddddd 1 in the National Stadium, Sofia. Its own ground does not meet UEFA standards. UEFA fined Ludogorets 16,000 euros ($20,700) for fans invading the field and the team receiving at least five yellow cards. UEFA ordered Steaua to play Aalborg on Sept. 18 without fans, for its second racist offence this season. Steaua was fined 64,500 euros ($83,600) for the racism and other offences. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '