In Japanese professional baseball, Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Murakami Munetaka has hit his 55th homerun this season, tying the record of legend Oh Sadaharu.

The 22-year-old clean-up hitter blasted two homeruns -- a solo homer and a three-run homer -- in a game against the Yomiuri Giants, on Tuesday. The Giants defeated the Swallows, 9-7.

Murakami is now in a four-way tie for second place, along with Oh. Former Yakult outfielder Wladimir Balentien set the Nippon Professional Baseball record of 60 homeruns in 2013.

The previous season, Murakami hit 39 homers, and won the homerun title for the first time. He batted fourth in all 143 games, helping his team win the league pennant and the national title.