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Less than a day after enduring one of the most exhausting defeats in World Series history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Bieber delivered a composed outing as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the series will return to Canada.

The Blue Jays had spent the morning of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest World Series contest ever – a loss that cost them the chance to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider insisted later that “they took a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided convincing proof.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again struck first. Muncy drew a walk in the second, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 comeback victories this season.

They answered immediately in the third. Lukes hit a one-out base hit to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate hunting a curveball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a new team mark – regaining the Toronto's lead after 13 scoreless frames and shifting the tone of the night.

Shohei's Night

That swing also halted Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat star had smashed two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' third game walk-off. But on Tuesday, he started on short rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His pitch speed sat below his regular-season norm and he labored more as the game progressed. Even so, he displayed flashes of his typical control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were charged to him in over six frames.

Late Game Surge

The bigger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when he eventually ran out of steam.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean single to right, and Clement smashed a double off the wall to put runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the escape.

Banda came into the jam and right away trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a full count before driving in Varsho with a base hit to left field. Ty France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, capping a four-run barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to absorb early setbacks and answer has defined their entire run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order hitter who exited Game 3 after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what the Blue Jays required. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from elbow surgery, the former Cy Young winner stranded multiple runners and quieted the Dodgers' potent lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before the manager called on rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just four pitches to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a narrow lead that soon grew comfortable.

Converted starter Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' offense kept to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only three runs over their previous 20 frames, an sudden downturn for a club that ranked among MLB's elite lineups all year.

Final Moments

The Dodgers scraped a score in the ninth when Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's two-base hit put two aboard. But Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to build.

Following a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after repeated of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. 6 separate Toronto players recorded hits, five brought home scores and the team converted nearly every scoring opportunity presented in the late stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Carter's iconic walk-off home run in '93. They now know they are guaranteed a packed crowd in Canada on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game approaches with the matchup even and momentum shifting north. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out Snell quickly in an 11-4 win.