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Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most draining losses in World Series history, the Toronto Blue Jays played with complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the series will head back to Canada.

The Blue Jays had spent the early hours of the next day processing their marathon Game 3 loss – equal to the longest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that denied them the opportunity to lead the matchup and depleted both bullpens. Skipper Schneider insisted afterwards that “they won a contest, not the championship”. A day later, his squad offered emphatic proof.

Early 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 sacrifice fly. But the early score did not shake a Blue Jays club that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this season.

They answered right away in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one away single to center field and Guerrero stepped in looking for a curveball. Shohei Ohtani left a slider up and Guerrero drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a new club record – regaining the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout innings and shifting the tone of the night.

Shohei's Night

That hit also ended Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The two-way star had smashed two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 walk-off. But on that night, he took the mound on limited rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

His pitch speed sat under his seasonal average and he labored more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed flashes of his typical control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Surge

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what came next when Ohtani finally lost steam.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh with a sharp single to right, and Clement drilled a two-base hit off the wall to put two on with no outs. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Dodgers' relief corps could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda inherited the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in Varsho with a single to left field. France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen came in next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger hit run-scoring base hits through the diamond, completing a four-run barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to withstand early setbacks and answer has defined their whole run. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff man who exited the third game after tweaking his oblique.

Bieber, meanwhile, was everything the Blue Jays required. Acquired mid-season while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner left multiple baserunners and silenced the Dodgers' potent batting order. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider called on first-year left-hander Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just 4 throws to retire Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile lead that quickly grew comfortable.

Converted starter Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only 3 scores over their last 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a club that was among MLB's elite lineups all season.

Closing Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman grounded out to score Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put runners on base. But Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to develop.

Following a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed chances, the fourth contest was brutally efficient. 6 separate Toronto players collected hits, five drove in scores and the squad converted almost every scoring opportunity available in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the championship trophy will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Carter's famous walk-off homer in 1993. They now know they are assured a packed crowd in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly the next day – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game approaches with the matchup even and momentum shifting to Toronto. Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out Snell early in an 11-4 victory.