  Wladimir Balentien misses game due to injury
Nederlands
 TOKYO (Japan) -
Wladimir Balentien missed tonight's (Wednesday, October 2) game against the Yomiuri Giants due to an injury.
Balentien initially was in the starting line-up as leftfielder for Yakult Swallows, but his name was removed after pre-game workouts.
The powerhitter had pain in his left Achilles tendon and therefore watched from the dug-out today.
It was not announced if Balentien will miss more games.
The Swallows have four games left in the regular season.
The Swallows won 1-0 vs. the Giants, the leader in the Central League.
At the Tokyo Dome, the home of the Giants, the lone run was scored in the fifth inning when second baseman Tetsuto Yamada homered.
Balentien is currently the leading hitter in the Central League with a .332 batting average.
Last month, he broke the single-season homerun-record and last Monday hit his 59th homerun of the season.
He is in second place with 128 runs batted in, trailing Tony Blanco, who has 134.
Blanco also is the second best hitter with a .330 average and hit 40 homeruns.
Blanco and his team Yokohama Bay Stars had no game scheduled tonight.
Last Friday, September 27, Balentien was decorated by the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association for his accomplishment this season.
(October 2)
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