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Less than a day following enduring one of the most draining defeats in World Series history, the Blue Jays displayed total control.

Guerrero crushed a two-run homer and Bieber provided a steady outing as Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the matchup will return to Canada.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their marathon Game 3 loss – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to take the lead in the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Manager John Schneider insisted afterwards that “they took a contest, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered convincing proof.

Initial Action

The Los Angeles again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second, advanced on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early breakthrough did not shake a Toronto club that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback victories this season.

They responded right away in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one-out single to center field and Guerrero stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a fresh club mark – restoring the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout frames and shifting the tone of the night.

Ohtani's Night

That hit also ended Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The two-way star had smashed two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 comeback win. But on that night, he took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His fastball velocity sat under his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his World Series streak. But the Toronto made him work: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Rally

The larger issue for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani finally lost steam.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a clean hit to right, and Clement smashed a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to remove the starter, who exited to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and right away trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a base hit 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 contest. Treinen came in next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, completing a four-score outburst that extended the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Resilience

The Toronto's capacity to absorb initial blows and answer has characterized their whole run. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited Game 3 after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything the Blue Jays required. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left several runners and quieted the Los Angeles' dangerous batting order. He gave up one earned run on four hits and three walks before the manager called on first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just four pitches to get out Max Muncy and Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that soon grew comfortable.

Converted starter Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense kept to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only 3 runs over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a team that was among baseball's elite offenses all year.

Closing Moments

The Dodgers scraped a run in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's double put two aboard. But Louis Varland closed it down without permitting a rally to develop.

After a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after repeated of missed chances, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. Six different Blue Jays recorded base hits, five drove in scores and the team cashed almost every run-scoring opportunity presented in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The win guarantees the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Joe Carter's iconic walk-off home run in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly the next day – no matter what happens next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the matchup even and energy shifting north. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Toronto knocked out Snell early in an decisive win.