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Less than a day following enduring one of the most exhausting defeats in Fall Classic history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a steady start as the Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the series will head back to Canada.

Toronto had spent the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest World Series game ever – a loss that cost them the chance to lead the matchup and burned through both relief corps. Skipper Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his team offered emphatic evidence.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Toronto team that topped Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind victories this season.

They responded right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one-out base hit to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate hunting a curveball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a new team record – restoring the Toronto's advantage after 13 scoreless frames and shifting the tone of the game.

Shohei's Performance

That swing also ended Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat phenomenon had smashed two home runs and got on base a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game comeback win. But on that night, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the prior marathon.

Ohtani fastball velocity was below his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the game progressed. Even so, he displayed flashes of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in over six frames.

Late Game Surge

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani eventually lost energy.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right field, and Clement drilled a double off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the escape.

Banda inherited the jam and immediately fell behind. Andrés Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring the runner with a single to left. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove Banda out of the game. Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI base hits through the diamond, capping a four-run outburst that extended the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand initial blows and respond has defined their entire run. They once again did it without Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who exited Game 3 after tweaking his oblique.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what Toronto required. Acquired during the summer while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded several baserunners and quieted the Dodgers' potent batting order. He allowed one run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager called on first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to confront the core of the lineup in the sixth. Fluharty needed just four pitches to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a fragile lead that quickly became comfortable.

Former starter Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' offense continued to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only three scores over their last 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a club that was among MLB's elite lineups all year.

Final Moments

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

Following a night when the Blue Jays left a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of wasted chances, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. 6 different Toronto players collected base hits, five drove in scores and the team cashed nearly every run-scoring opportunity available in the late stanzas.

Next Up

The victory ensures the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a title since Carter's famous walk-off homer in '93. They now know they are assured a packed house in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the series reset and energy swinging to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Blake 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 rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto chased the starter early in an 11-4 win.