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Less than a day after enduring one of the most exhausting defeats in Fall Classic annals, the Blue Jays displayed complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber delivered a steady outing as Toronto defeated 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 head back to Canada.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their marathon third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest World Series game ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to take the lead in the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a game, not the championship”. A day later, his squad offered convincing proof.

Initial Action

The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays club that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this year.

They answered immediately in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one away single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the series and his seventh home run this playoffs – a new club mark – regaining the Toronto's lead after 13 shutout frames and shifting the tone of the night.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also halted Shohei Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat phenomenon had hit two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on limited rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

His fastball velocity sat under his regular-season norm and he labored more as the contest progressed. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his World Series streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Late Game Surge

The larger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when Ohtani eventually ran out of steam.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right field, and Clement smashed a double off the wall to put two on with no outs. Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the inning.

Banda came into the jam and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a full count before driving in the runner with a single to left field. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock Banda out of the game. Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger hit RBI singles through the diamond, capping a four-run barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand early setbacks and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again did it without Springer, the injured top-of-the-order man who left Game 3 after straining his oblique.

Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what Toronto needed. Acquired during the summer while completing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the former Cy Young winner left multiple baserunners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He gave up one run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider summoned rookie left-hander Fluharty to confront the heart of the order in the sixth. Fluharty required just 4 pitches to get out Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that quickly grew comfortable.

Converted starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' bats kept to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only 3 scores over their previous 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a club that was among MLB's top offenses all season.

Final Innings

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to build.

Following a night when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of wasted chances, the fourth contest was brutally effective. 6 separate Blue Jays recorded base hits, five drove in runs and the team converted almost every scoring opportunity presented in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the World Series trophy will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Carter's iconic walk-off homer in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Canada on Friday evening – and perhaps the next day – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game looms with the series even and momentum swinging to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an decisive victory.