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Less than a day after staggering through one of the most exhausting losses in Fall Classic annals, the Toronto Blue Jays played with total control.

Guerrero smashed a two-run home run and Bieber provided a steady outing as Toronto defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the series will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had passed the morning of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest World Series game ever – a loss that denied them the chance to lead the series and depleted both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider stated later that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered emphatic evidence.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that led MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They answered right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a one away base hit to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in looking for a curveball. Ohtani threw a slider up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a new team record – regaining the Toronto's lead after 13 scoreless frames and changing the momentum of the night.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive plate appearances getting on base. The two-way star had hit two homers and got on base a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on that night, he started on short rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior extra-inning game.

His fastball velocity sat below his seasonal average and he labored more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he displayed flashes of his usual control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Rally

The larger issue for the Dodgers was what came next when Ohtani eventually lost energy.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a two-base hit off the fence to put runners on with no outs. Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the inning.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and immediately trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez battled to a full count before driving in Varsho with a single to left. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched run-scoring singles through the infield, capping a four-run barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Toronto's capacity to withstand initial blows and respond has defined their whole postseason. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order man who exited Game 3 after tweaking his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto needed. Acquired during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded several baserunners and silenced the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He allowed one earned run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider summoned first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just 4 throws to get out Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile advantage that quickly became safe.

Former starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' offense continued to sputter. The Dodgers have scored only three runs over their last 20 frames, an sudden downturn for a team that was among MLB's elite offenses all season.

Closing Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth when Tommy Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's double put two on base. But Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop.

Following a game when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. 6 separate Blue Jays recorded hits, five brought home runs and the team converted almost every scoring opportunity presented in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the championship title will be presented at Rogers Centre, 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 packed crowd in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game approaches with the series even and momentum shifting to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's surge. Toronto counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Blue Jays knocked out the starter early in an decisive victory.