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

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber delivered a steady start as Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the series will head back to Canada.

Toronto had passed the early hours of Tuesday processing their marathon third game defeat – tied for the longest Fall Classic contest ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Manager John Schneider stated later that “the Dodgers took a game, not the championship”. A day later, his team offered emphatic evidence.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second, moved up on a single and scored on Hernández's fly out. But the initial score did not rattle a Blue Jays club that led Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this year.

They responded immediately in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one-out single to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a fresh team record – regaining the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout innings and changing the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also halted Shohei Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive plate appearances reaching base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two homers and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed sat below his seasonal average and he labored more as the contest wore on. Even so, he displayed flashes of his typical control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first inning to continue his World Series record. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were credited to him in over six frames.

Seventh Inning Surge

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when he finally lost energy.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Banda came into the jam and right away trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a single to left. Ty France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen came in next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger hit RBI base hits through the infield, capping a four-score barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to withstand initial setbacks and respond has characterized their entire postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who exited Game 3 after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything Toronto needed. Traded for during the summer while finishing recovery from elbow surgery, the former Cy Young winner stranded several baserunners and silenced the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before the manager called on first-year pitcher Fluharty to face the heart of the order in the sixth. Fluharty required just four pitches to retire Muncy and Edman, preserving a narrow lead that quickly grew comfortable.

Former starter Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' offense continued to sputter. The Dodgers have produced only three runs over their last 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a club that was among baseball's top lineups all season.

Final Moments

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put two aboard. But Varland finished the game without permitting a comeback to develop.

Following a night when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after repeated of missed chances, the fourth contest was brutally efficient. Six separate Blue Jays recorded base hits, 5 brought home scores and the squad converted almost every scoring opportunity presented in the final stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Carter's famous game-winning home run in '93. They now know they are assured a full crowd in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

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