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Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most draining defeats in Fall Classic annals, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a steady outing as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, tying the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had passed the morning of Tuesday dealing with their marathon third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that denied them the opportunity to lead the series and depleted both relief corps. Skipper Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a game, not the championship”. A day later, his squad provided convincing evidence.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early score did not shake a Toronto club that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback victories this year.

They answered right away in the third inning. Lukes hit a one-out single to center field and Guerrero stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the World Series and his 7th home run this postseason – a new club record – restoring the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout frames and changing the tone of the game.

Shohei's Performance

That hit also ended Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat phenomenon had hit two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game comeback win. But on that night, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His pitch speed sat under his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he showed flashes of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first to continue his World Series record. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were credited to him in six-plus frames.

Late Game Rally

The bigger issue for Los Angeles was what followed when Ohtani eventually lost steam.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the fence to put two on with no outs. Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who exited to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and right away fell behind. Andrés Giménez battled to a full count before scoring the runner with a single to left field. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen came in next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger hit RBI base hits through the diamond, capping a four-score outburst that extended the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to absorb initial blows and respond has characterized their entire run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt leadoff man who left Game 3 after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded several baserunners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous lineup. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks before Schneider summoned rookie pitcher Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. He required just 4 pitches to get out Max Muncy and Edman, preserving a fragile advantage that soon became safe.

Converted starting pitcher Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats kept to sputter. The Dodgers have scored only 3 runs over their last 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a team that ranked among MLB's elite offenses all season.

Closing Moments

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

Following a night when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 runners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed chances, Game 4 was brutally effective. Six separate Blue Jays collected base hits, 5 brought home runs and the squad converted nearly every run-scoring chance presented in the final stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the World Series trophy will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not won a title since Carter's iconic walk-off home run in '93. They now know they are guaranteed a full crowd in Canada on Friday evening – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game approaches with the series reset and energy swinging north. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's momentum. Toronto respond with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto knocked out Snell early in an 11-4 win.