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Less than a day following staggering through one of the most draining losses in Fall Classic history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber provided a steady outing as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the series will return to Canada.

Toronto had spent the early hours of Tuesday processing their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to lead the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Manager John Schneider insisted later that “they won a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his team offered emphatic evidence.

Early Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy drew a walk in the second, advanced on a base hit and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the early score did not shake a Blue Jays club that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this year.

They answered immediately in the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a one-out single to center field and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani left a slider up and he sent it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the series and his seventh home run this postseason – a new team mark – regaining the Toronto's advantage after 13 shutout frames and changing the tone of the night.

Shohei's Performance

That hit also halted Shohei Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat star had hit two homers and reached safely a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' third game comeback win. But on that night, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed was under his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the game progressed. Nonetheless, he showed flashes of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four earned runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

The bigger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani finally ran out of steam.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean single to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the wall to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull Ohtani, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not finish the inning.

Banda came into the jam and right away fell behind. Andrés Giménez fought to a full count before scoring the runner with a single to left. France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove Banda out of the game. Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bo Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring singles through the diamond, capping a four-score barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to withstand early setbacks and answer has defined their entire run. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited the third game after tweaking his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything the Blue Jays required. Acquired during the summer while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the former Cy Young winner stranded several runners and quieted the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He gave up one run on four hits and three walks before Schneider summoned rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just four throws to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a narrow lead that quickly grew comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' offense kept to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only three scores over their previous 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a club that ranked among baseball's elite lineups all season.

Final Moments

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's double put runners on base. But Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop.

After a game when Toronto stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, the fourth contest was ruthlessly effective. Six separate Toronto players collected base hits, 5 drove in scores and the team cashed nearly every run-scoring opportunity 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 1993. They now know they are guaranteed a packed house in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup reset and energy swinging to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Blue Jays's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an 11-4 victory.