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Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most exhausting defeats in Fall Classic history, the Blue Jays displayed total command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Bieber delivered a composed outing as Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will head back to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had spent the early hours of the next day dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the longest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that denied them the chance to lead the series and depleted both relief corps. Skipper Schneider stated later that “the Dodgers won a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided emphatic proof.

Initial Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early score did not shake a Toronto team that led Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind victories this season.

They answered right away in the third. Lukes hit a one away single to center field and Guerrero came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani left a slider up and he sent it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a new club record – regaining the Toronto's advantage after 13 shutout frames and shifting the momentum of the night.

Ohtani's Night

That hit also halted Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The two-way star had hit two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 comeback win. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous extra-inning game.

His fastball velocity sat below his regular-season average and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Even so, he displayed flashes of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were charged to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The bigger problem for Los Angeles was what followed when Ohtani eventually ran out of energy.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp hit to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a two-base hit off the wall to put two on with no outs. Roberts had little choice but to pull the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and right away trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before driving in Varsho with a single to left field. Ty 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 contest. Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bo Bichette and Barger punched RBI base hits through the infield, completing a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to absorb initial setbacks and answer has defined their entire run. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who left the third game after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto required. Traded for mid-season while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded several runners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He gave up one earned run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider called on first-year pitcher Fluharty to confront the core of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just 4 throws to get out Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile advantage that soon became safe.

Former starter Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats continued to sputter. The Dodgers have produced only 3 scores over their previous 20 frames, an sudden downturn for a club that was among baseball's top offenses all season.

Final Moments

The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Muncy's double put two aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without permitting a rally to build.

After a game when the Blue Jays left a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed chances, the fourth contest was ruthlessly effective. 6 different Toronto players recorded hits, 5 drove in scores and the squad converted almost every run-scoring opportunity presented in the final stanzas.

Next Up

The victory ensures the World Series title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not celebrated a championship since Carter's iconic walk-off home run in '93. They now know they are assured a packed crowd in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the series even and energy swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an decisive victory.