🔗 Share this article Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers against Ohtani as Toronto See Off Los Angeles to Level World Series at 2-2 Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most exhausting losses in World Series history, the Blue Jays displayed total command. Guerrero crushed a two-run homer and Bieber provided a steady outing as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will return to Canada. Toronto had passed the early hours of Tuesday processing their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the longest World Series contest ever – a defeat that denied them the opportunity to lead the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Manager John Schneider insisted afterwards that “they won a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his team offered convincing proof. Initial Action The Dodgers again scored first. Muncy drew a walk in the second, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial score did not shake a Blue Jays team that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this season. They responded right away in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one away single to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani left a slider up and he drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his seventh home run this playoffs – a fresh club record – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout innings and shifting the momentum of the game. Shohei's Night That hit also halted Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive plate appearances reaching base. The two-way star had smashed two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 comeback win. But on that night, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon. His pitch speed was below his regular-season average and he labored more as the game progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in six-plus innings. Late Game Surge The larger problem for the Dodgers was what came next when Ohtani finally lost energy. Varsho opened the seventh with a clean hit to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the fence to put two on with no outs. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who departed to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the inning. Banda inherited the jam and right away trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before driving in Varsho with a single to left. Ty France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the game. Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bichette and Barger punched RBI singles through the infield, capping a four-run barrage that extended the margin to 6-1. Blue Jays's Resilience The Blue Jays's ability to absorb early blows and answer has characterized their entire run. They once again did it without George Springer, the injured top-of-the-order man who left Game 3 after tweaking his oblique. Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what the Blue Jays required. Traded for mid-season while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded multiple runners and quieted the Dodgers' potent lineup. He gave up one run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager summoned rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just four pitches to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile advantage that soon became comfortable. Converted starter Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only three scores over their last 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a team that ranked among baseball's elite lineups all year. Closing Innings The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's double put two aboard. But Varland finished the game without allowing a rally to build. After a night when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed chances, the fourth contest was ruthlessly effective. 6 different Blue Jays recorded hits, five drove in scores and the team cashed almost every scoring opportunity presented in the final innings. Looking Ahead The win ensures the championship title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not won a title since Carter's iconic walk-off homer in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Toronto on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA. Game 5 looms with the series even and energy swinging north. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays counter with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell quickly in an decisive victory.