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Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most draining defeats in Fall Classic history, the Blue Jays played with complete control.

Guerrero smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two games each and ensuring the matchup will head back to Canada.

Toronto had passed the morning of Tuesday dealing with their marathon third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that denied them the chance to lead the matchup and burned through both relief corps. Skipper Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a contest, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered convincing evidence.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again scored first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the initial score did not shake a Blue Jays team that topped MLB with 49 comeback wins this season.

They responded immediately in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a curveball. Shohei Ohtani threw a slider up and he drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a fresh club record – regaining the Toronto's advantage after 13 shutout frames and changing the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also halted Ohtani's history-making run of 11 consecutive plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat phenomenon had smashed two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game comeback win. But on that night, he started on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the prior marathon.

His pitch speed was below his seasonal average and he struggled more as the game wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Late Game Surge

The larger issue for Los Angeles was what came next when Ohtani eventually lost steam.

Varsho started the seventh with a clean hit to right, and Clement smashed a double off the fence to put runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda inherited the jam and right away fell behind. Andrés Giménez battled to a full count before driving in Varsho with a single to left field. Ty France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock Banda out of the contest. Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the momentum: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, completing a four-score barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to absorb early blows and answer has characterized their whole run. They once again did it without Springer, the injured top-of-the-order man who left the third game after straining his oblique.

Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Acquired mid-season while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former Cy Young winner left several baserunners and silenced the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He gave up one run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager summoned first-year pitcher Fluharty to face the heart of the order in the sixth inning. He needed just four throws to retire Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile lead that soon grew safe.

Converted starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only 3 scores over their last 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a club that ranked among MLB's elite lineups all year.

Closing Innings

The Dodgers scraped a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners on base. But Varland closed it down without permitting a rally to develop.

After a night when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed chances, the fourth contest was brutally efficient. 6 different Toronto players collected hits, five drove in scores and the team cashed nearly every scoring chance available in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series trophy will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not won a championship since Carter's famous walk-off homer in '93. They now are aware they are assured a packed house in Toronto on Friday evening – and perhaps the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup even and energy swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's surge. Toronto counter with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto chased the starter early in an 11-4 victory.