after Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz said on Independence Day that Israel must prepare for the possibility of striking Iran's nuclear program on its own.Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi also responded to the Israeli comments, saying they were "worthless threats," the Islamic Republic News Agency reported."ˈThe Zionist regime is not so unwise as to commit suicide,ˈ" IRNA quoted Vahidi as saying.The Iranian defense minister said that Tehran was "prepared for a rapid reaction to any adventure by the Zionist regime."Wladimir Balentien knocked in a pair of home runs, helping 21-year-old starter Keiji Takahashi pick up his first professional win as the Tokyo Yakult Swallows edged the Yokohama BayStars 3-2 on Tuesday night.

The result in front of 28,328 at Jingu Stadium erased Yokohama’s half-game lead over the Yomiuri Giants in the race for third place and a berth in the Central League Climax Series.

Slugger Balentien gave the Swallows the lead in the second with his 35th homer of the season, a two-run shot off BayStars starter Kentaro Taira.

After retiring leadoff man Tomotaka Sakaguchi and Norichika Aoki, Taira surrendered a ground ball single to Testsuto Yamada, bringing Balentien the plate.

Balentien, whose 60 home runs in 2013 remain the single-season benchmark in Japanese baseball, sent Taira’s first pitch, a 140-kph