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Less than a day following enduring one of the most exhausting losses in World Series annals, the Toronto Blue Jays played with complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Bieber provided a composed outing as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the matchup will return to Canada.

Toronto had passed the early hours of the next day dealing with their marathon third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to take the lead in the series and burned through both bullpens. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered emphatic proof.

Early Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial score did not rattle a Toronto club that led Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this year.

They responded right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a one away single to centre and Guerrero stepped in hunting a curveball. Ohtani left a slider up and Guerrero drove it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a fresh team record – restoring the Toronto's lead after 13 shutout innings and changing the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Night

That hit also halted Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had hit two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 comeback win. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His fastball velocity was under his seasonal average and he labored more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he showed flashes of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto made him work: six hits and four earned runs were credited to him in six-plus frames.

Seventh Inning Surge

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

Varsho opened the seventh inning with a clean hit to right field, and Clement drilled a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with none out. Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Dodgers' relief corps could not finish the inning.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and immediately fell behind. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring the runner with a single to left field. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stem the rally: Bo Bichette and Barger hit RBI singles through the infield, completing a four-run outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Resilience

The Toronto's ability to withstand initial setbacks and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited the third game after straining his oblique.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything the Blue Jays needed. Acquired during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left several baserunners and silenced the Dodgers' potent batting order. He allowed one run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager summoned first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. He required just 4 pitches to retire Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile lead that quickly became comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' bats kept to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only three runs over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a club that was among MLB's top lineups all season.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put two aboard. But Louis Varland closed it down without permitting a comeback to develop.

Following a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of wasted chances, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. Six different Toronto players recorded hits, 5 brought home scores and the team cashed nearly every run-scoring chance presented in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not won a championship since Joe Carter's famous walk-off home run in 1993. They now are aware they are assured a full house in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup reset and energy swinging to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto respond with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto knocked out the starter quickly in an 11-4 win.