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Less than a day following enduring one of the most draining defeats in Fall Classic annals, the Toronto Blue Jays played with complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber delivered a steady outing as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, tying the World Series at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day processing their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that denied them the chance to take the lead in the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided convincing evidence.

Initial Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second, advanced on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not shake a Toronto club that led Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this year.

They answered immediately in the third. Lukes lined a one away base hit to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani left a sweeper up and he drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a new team record – restoring the Toronto's lead after 13 scoreless innings and changing the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two homers and reached safely a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on that night, he started on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the prior marathon.

His pitch speed sat under his seasonal norm and he labored more as the game progressed. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to extend his World Series record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six base hits and four earned runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The bigger problem for Los Angeles was what followed when he finally ran out of energy.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh with a clean single to right field, and Clement drilled a two-base hit off the wall to put runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to remove the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the inning.

Anthony Banda inherited the mess and immediately fell behind. Giménez battled to a full count before driving in the runner with a single to left. France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock the pitcher out of the game. Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI singles through the diamond, capping a four-score outburst that extended the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to withstand initial setbacks and respond has characterized their entire postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured leadoff hitter who left Game 3 after tweaking his oblique.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what Toronto required. Acquired during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded multiple runners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He gave up one run on four base hits and three free passes before Schneider summoned rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just four throws to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that quickly grew safe.

Converted starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats continued to sputter. Los Angeles have scored only three runs over their last 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a club that was among baseball's top lineups all season.

Final Moments

The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's two-base hit put runners aboard. But Louis Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop.

Following a game when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after repeated of missed chances, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. Six separate Blue Jays recorded hits, 5 brought home scores and the squad converted almost every scoring chance available in the late stanzas.

Next Up

The victory guarantees the World Series trophy will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Carter's famous game-winning home run in 1993. They now are aware they are assured a full house in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game looms with the matchup even and momentum swinging north. Los Angeles left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Blue Jays's surge. Toronto counter with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased Snell early in an decisive win.