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Less than a day after staggering through one of the most draining losses in World Series history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Bieber provided a steady outing as Toronto beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the matchup will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had passed the early hours of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest Fall Classic contest ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Manager John Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided emphatic proof.

Initial Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial score did not shake a Blue Jays team that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this season.

They answered immediately in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away base hit to center field and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a new club mark – restoring the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout innings and shifting the tone of the game.

Ohtani's Night

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat phenomenon had hit two homers and reached safely a record nine times in the Dodgers' third game comeback win. But on that night, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

Ohtani fastball velocity was under his regular-season average and he struggled more as the game progressed. Even so, he displayed flashes of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Rally

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what came next when Ohtani finally lost steam.

Varsho started the seventh with a sharp hit to right, and Ernie Clement smashed a two-base hit off the wall to put runners on with no outs. Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who departed to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the inning.

Banda inherited the jam and right away fell behind. Giménez battled to a full count before scoring the runner with a base hit to left. France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen came in next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger hit RBI base hits through the diamond, completing a four-run outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand initial setbacks and answer has defined their entire postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured leadoff hitter who exited the third game after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what the Blue Jays required. Traded for mid-season while finishing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left several runners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He gave up one run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider called on first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just four throws to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a fragile advantage that soon became comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' offense continued to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only three scores over their previous 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a team that was among MLB's elite offenses all season.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But Louis Varland closed it down without allowing a rally to develop.

After a game when the Blue Jays stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of missed opportunities, the fourth contest was brutally effective. 6 different Blue Jays collected base hits, 5 drove in runs and the squad cashed almost every scoring opportunity available in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the World Series trophy will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a title since Carter's famous game-winning homer in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA.

The fifth game looms with the matchup reset and momentum shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Toronto's momentum. Toronto respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased Snell early in an 11-4 victory.