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Only 24 hours after enduring one of the most draining defeats in World Series annals, the Blue Jays played with complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two games each and ensuring the matchup will head back to Canada.

Toronto had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a defeat that denied them the chance to take the lead in the series and depleted both bullpens. Manager John Schneider stated later that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered convincing proof.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again scored first. Muncy walked in the second, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the initial score did not rattle a Toronto club that led MLB with 49 comeback victories this year.

They responded right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one away single to centre and Guerrero stepped in hunting a curveball. Ohtani left a sweeper up and he sent it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this postseason – a new team record – regaining the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 scoreless innings and shifting the momentum of the game.

Shohei's Performance

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight at-bats reaching base. The dual-threat phenomenon had smashed two homers and got on base a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on that night, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the previous extra-inning game.

Ohtani pitch speed sat below his regular-season average and he labored more as the contest progressed. Even so, he showed flashes of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic streak. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were charged to him in over six frames.

Seventh Inning Surge

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani eventually ran out of energy.

Varsho started the seventh with a sharp single to right field, and Clement drilled a two-base hit off the wall to put runners on with none out. Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and right away fell behind. Andrés Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a base hit to left. Ty France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the rally: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched run-scoring base hits through the diamond, completing a four-score barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to withstand early setbacks and answer has characterized their whole run. They once again did it without George Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who left Game 3 after straining his oblique.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays required. Traded for during the summer while completing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded multiple runners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He gave up one run on four hits and three walks before Schneider called on first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to confront the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just 4 throws to retire Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that soon became safe.

Converted starter Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' offense continued to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only three runs over their previous 20 frames, an sudden downturn for a club that was among baseball's elite lineups all year.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles scraped a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to build.

Following a night when Toronto stranded a World Series-record 19 runners and fell apart after repeated of missed chances, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. 6 different Blue Jays collected base hits, five drove in runs and the team converted almost every run-scoring chance available in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the championship trophy will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not won a championship since Joe Carter's iconic game-winning home run in '93. They now are aware they are assured a packed crowd in Canada on Friday night – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the series even and momentum swinging north. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's surge. Toronto counter with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Blue Jays chased Snell quickly in an decisive victory.