Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers against Shohei Ohtani as Toronto See Off Dodgers to Level Series at 2-2

Less than a day after enduring one of the most exhausting losses in World Series history, the Blue Jays displayed total control.

Guerrero smashed a two-run home run and Bieber delivered a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, squaring the Fall Classic at two games each and guaranteeing the series will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had spent the early hours of the next day dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that denied them the opportunity to take the lead in the series and depleted both relief corps. Manager John Schneider insisted afterwards that “they won a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided convincing evidence.

Early Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the early score did not shake a Blue Jays team that led Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this year.

They responded immediately in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one away base hit to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in hunting a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he sent it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a new team mark – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless frames and changing the momentum of the game.

Shohei's Night

That hit also halted Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had hit two home runs and got on base a historic nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 comeback win. But on that night, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the prior extra-inning game.

Ohtani fastball velocity sat below his seasonal norm and he labored more as the contest progressed. Even so, he displayed flashes of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his World Series record. But the Toronto made him work: six base hits and four earned runs were credited to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Surge

The larger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when Ohtani eventually ran out of steam.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean hit to right, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the wall to put runners on with no outs. Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who departed to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and right away trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a full count before driving in the runner with a single to left. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the rally: Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, completing a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to withstand early blows and respond has defined their whole run. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who left the third game after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Acquired mid-season while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded several runners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks before Schneider called on first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just four pitches to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that soon grew comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only 3 runs over their last 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a team that was among MLB's elite offenses all season.

Closing Innings

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth when Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's double put runners on base. But Varland finished the game without allowing a rally to develop.

After a night when Toronto stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after repeated of missed chances, Game 4 was brutally effective. Six separate Blue Jays collected base hits, 5 brought home scores and the squad cashed almost every scoring chance presented in the late innings.

Next Up

The victory guarantees the championship trophy will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not won a championship since Carter's famous walk-off homer in 1993. They now know they are assured a full crowd in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the series even and energy shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Toronto's surge. Toronto counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto chased the starter early in an 11-4 victory.