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Less than a day after enduring one of the most draining losses in Fall Classic history, the Blue Jays displayed complete command.

Guerrero smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber delivered a composed start as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, tying the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the series will return to Canada.

Toronto had spent the early hours of Tuesday processing their marathon Game 3 loss – tied for the longest World Series contest ever – a loss that denied them the chance to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider stated afterwards that “they won a game, not the World Series”. A day later, his team provided convincing evidence.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again scored first. Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the initial score did not rattle a Toronto team that topped Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They answered immediately in the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a one-out single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate hunting a curveball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a new club record – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless frames and changing the tone of the night.

Shohei's Performance

That swing also ended Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat star had smashed two homers and reached safely a record nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 comeback win. But on Tuesday, he started on short rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the prior marathon.

His fastball velocity sat under his seasonal norm and he labored more as the game wore on. Nonetheless, he showed flashes of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his Fall Classic streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Rally

The larger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when he eventually lost energy.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right, and Ernie Clement smashed a two-base hit off the wall to put runners on with none out. Roberts had little choice but to pull the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Dodgers' bullpen could not complete the escape.

Banda came into the mess and right away trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a single to left field. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stem the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger hit RBI base hits through the infield, completing a four-run outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to withstand initial setbacks and respond has defined their entire run. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured leadoff man who left the third game after straining his oblique.

Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays required. Acquired during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded several runners and quieted the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before the manager called on rookie left-hander Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth. Fluharty needed just four throws to get out Muncy and Edman, preserving a fragile advantage that soon grew comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats continued to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only three scores over their last 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a club that ranked among MLB's elite offenses all season.

Final Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's double put runners on base. But Varland closed it down without allowing a rally to develop.

After a game when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. 6 different Blue Jays collected hits, 5 brought home scores and the team converted nearly every run-scoring chance presented in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Carter's iconic walk-off home run in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed crowd in Canada on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 looms with the matchup reset and energy shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Blue Jays chased Snell early in an 11-4 win.