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Only 24 hours after enduring one of the most exhausting losses in Fall Classic history, the Blue Jays displayed total command.

Guerrero smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a composed start as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the series will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had spent the morning of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest Fall Classic contest ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to lead the matchup and depleted both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider insisted afterwards that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad provided convincing evidence.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second, moved up on a base hit and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays club that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback victories this year.

They responded immediately in the third. Lukes lined a one away base hit to centre and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a fresh club mark – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless innings and changing the tone of the game.

Shohei's Performance

That swing also ended Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat star had smashed two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game walk-off. But on that night, he started on short rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the prior extra-inning game.

His fastball velocity was below his seasonal average and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he showed glimpses of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus frames.

Seventh Inning Rally

The bigger issue for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani eventually lost energy.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean single to right, and Clement smashed a two-base hit off the wall to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Dodgers' relief corps could not complete the inning.

Banda came into the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before driving in Varsho with a single to left field. Ty France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the momentum: Bichette and Barger punched run-scoring singles through the infield, capping a four-score barrage that extended the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to absorb early setbacks and answer has characterized their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited Game 3 after straining his oblique.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was everything the Blue Jays needed. Acquired mid-season while completing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded several baserunners and silenced the Dodgers' potent batting order. He allowed one run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider summoned rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the order in the sixth. Fluharty needed just 4 pitches to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile lead that soon grew safe.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only 3 scores over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a club that ranked among MLB's elite lineups all year.

Closing Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth when Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But Louis Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to build.

Following a game when Toronto left a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed chances, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. 6 different Blue Jays recorded base hits, 5 drove in runs and the squad converted nearly every run-scoring opportunity presented in the late innings.

Next Up

The win guarantees the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a title since Carter's iconic walk-off homer in 1993. They now know they are guaranteed a packed crowd in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 looms with the series reset and energy shifting to Toronto. Dodgers left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's momentum. Toronto respond with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased Snell early in an 11-4 victory.