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

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber provided a composed 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 games each and ensuring the series will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to take the lead in the matchup and burned through both relief corps. Skipper Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a game, not the championship”. A day later, his squad provided convincing evidence.

Initial Action

The Los Angeles again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a base hit and scored on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays club that led Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this season.

They answered right away in the third. Lukes hit a one away single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in hunting a curveball. Shohei Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his first extra-base hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this postseason – a new club record – regaining the Toronto's lead after 13 shutout frames and changing the momentum of the night.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also halted Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat star had hit two home runs and got on base a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the previous extra-inning game.

Ohtani fastball velocity sat under his regular-season norm and he labored more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six base hits and four runs were charged to him in over six frames.

Late Game Surge

The bigger problem for the Dodgers was what came next when Ohtani eventually lost steam.

Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp single to right field, and Clement smashed a double off the wall to put two on with no outs. Roberts had little choice but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Dodgers' relief corps could not finish the escape.

Banda inherited the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a full 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 enough to remove Banda out of the contest. Treinen came in next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, capping a four-score barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to withstand initial blows and respond has defined their whole run. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt leadoff man who left the third game after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto needed. Acquired mid-season while completing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner left multiple runners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before the manager summoned rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the core of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just four pitches to get out Max Muncy and Edman, preserving a fragile lead that soon became safe.

Former starter Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats continued to sputter. The Dodgers have produced only 3 scores over their previous 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a club that ranked among MLB's elite offenses all season.

Final Moments

The Dodgers scraped a score in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's two-base hit put two aboard. But Louis Varland closed it down without allowing a rally to develop.

After a night when Toronto left a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. 6 separate Toronto players collected base hits, five brought home scores and the squad converted nearly every run-scoring chance available in the late stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series trophy will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won 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 Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the matchup even and energy swinging north. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Toronto's surge. Toronto respond with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Toronto knocked out Snell early in an 11-4 win.