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Less than a day after enduring one of the most exhausting losses in Fall Classic history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed complete command.

Guerrero crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a steady outing as the Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will return to Canada.

Toronto had spent the morning of Tuesday dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that denied them the chance to take the lead in the series and depleted both bullpens. Skipper Schneider stated later that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the championship”. A day later, his team provided convincing proof.

Early Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, moved up on a base hit and crossed the plate on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays club that led MLB with 49 comeback victories this season.

They responded immediately in the third. Lukes hit a one away base hit to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in hunting a curveball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero sent it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his initial extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a new team record – restoring the Toronto's advantage after 13 scoreless innings and shifting the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also halted Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The dual-threat star had hit two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the prior extra-inning game.

Ohtani pitch speed sat under his regular-season norm and he labored more as the contest progressed. Even so, he displayed glimpses of his typical control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto made him work: six hits and four earned runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The bigger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when he eventually ran out of energy.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a clean hit to right field, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the fence to put runners on with none out. Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who departed to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the inning.

Banda inherited the mess and right away fell behind. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a single to left field. France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the game. Treinen came in next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring base hits through the diamond, capping a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to absorb initial setbacks and respond has defined their whole run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt leadoff man who exited the third game after tweaking his oblique.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto needed. Traded for during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded several runners and silenced the Los Angeles' dangerous batting order. He gave up one run on four hits and three walks before the manager called on rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the order in the sixth. He required just 4 throws to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow lead that quickly grew comfortable.

Converted starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats kept to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only three scores over their last 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a team that ranked among baseball's top lineups all year.

Closing Innings

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's two-base hit put runners on base. But Varland finished the game without permitting a rally to build.

Following a night when Toronto left a World Series-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed opportunities, Game 4 was brutally efficient. 6 separate Blue Jays recorded hits, 5 brought home runs and the squad converted nearly every run-scoring chance presented in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a championship since Joe Carter's iconic game-winning home run in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed house in Toronto on Friday evening – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game looms with the matchup even and energy swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Toronto's surge. Toronto counter with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell quickly in an decisive win.