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Less than a day following enduring one of the most draining losses in World Series history, the Blue Jays displayed complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a composed start as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the World Series at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will return to Toronto.

Toronto had passed the morning of Tuesday dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that cost them the opportunity to lead the series and depleted both bullpens. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered emphatic proof.

Initial Innings

The Dodgers again scored first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial score did not rattle a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind wins this year.

They answered right away in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one away base hit to centre and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a curveball. 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 seventh home run this postseason – a fresh team record – restoring the Toronto's lead after 13 scoreless frames and changing the tone of the game.

Ohtani's Night

That hit also halted Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat star had smashed two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' third game comeback win. But on that night, he took the mound on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the prior extra-inning game.

His fastball velocity sat under his regular-season average and he struggled more as the game progressed. Even so, he showed glimpses of his typical command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Late Game Surge

The bigger issue for the Dodgers was what came next when he eventually ran out of steam.

Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the fence to put runners on with no outs. Dave Roberts had little choice but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the escape.

Banda came into the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in Varsho with a base hit to left field. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock Banda out of the contest. Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the rally: Bichette and Barger hit RBI base hits through the diamond, completing a four-score barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's capacity to withstand initial blows and respond has characterized their entire postseason. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited the third game after straining his oblique.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto required. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former Cy Young winner left multiple baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He gave up one run on four base hits and three walks before the manager called on first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just 4 throws to get out Muncy and Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that soon became safe.

Converted starter Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' bats continued to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only 3 scores over their last 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a team that ranked among baseball's top offenses all year.

Final Innings

The Los Angeles scraped a run in the ninth when Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put runners on base. But Varland closed it down without permitting a comeback to develop.

After a game when Toronto left a World Series-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, the fourth contest was brutally efficient. 6 different Toronto players collected base hits, five brought home runs and the team converted nearly every scoring opportunity available in the final innings.

Next Up

The victory ensures the championship trophy will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Carter's iconic game-winning home run in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps the next day – no matter what happens next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the series reset and momentum swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased the starter early in an 11-4 win.