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Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most draining defeats in Fall Classic annals, the Toronto Blue Jays played with complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a steady outing as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the series will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had spent the early hours of the next day processing their marathon third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that denied them the opportunity to lead the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Skipper Schneider stated later that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered convincing proof.

Early Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early score did not shake a Toronto club that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this season.

They responded immediately in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away single to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani left a sweeper up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a new club mark – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and changing the tone of the night.

Ohtani's Night

That swing also ended Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat star had smashed two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 walk-off. But on that night, he started on short rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior extra-inning game.

Ohtani fastball velocity was under his seasonal average and he labored more as the contest progressed. Even so, he displayed glimpses of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and striking out six. He even walked in the first to extend his Fall Classic streak. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were credited to him in over six frames.

Seventh Inning Surge

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

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a two-base hit off the wall to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the inning.

Banda came into the mess and right away fell behind. Giménez fought to a full count before driving in Varsho with a base hit to left field. Ty France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger hit RBI base hits through the infield, capping a four-score outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to withstand early blows and respond has defined their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who exited the third game after straining his oblique.

Bieber, meanwhile, was everything Toronto required. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left several baserunners and silenced the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager called on first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth. He required just 4 pitches to retire Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile lead that quickly became safe.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' offense continued to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only 3 scores over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a club that was among MLB's elite lineups all season.

Final Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Varland finished the game without allowing a rally to develop.

Following a game when the Blue Jays stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was brutally efficient. Six separate Toronto players recorded base hits, five drove in scores and the team cashed almost every scoring chance presented in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a championship since Joe Carter's famous game-winning home run in '93. They now know they are assured a full crowd in Canada on Friday night – and perhaps the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup even and momentum shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased the starter early in an 11-4 victory.