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Less than a day following enduring one of the most draining losses in Fall Classic annals, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed complete control.

Guerrero smashed a two-run homer and Bieber provided a steady start as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the matchup will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had spent the early hours of the next day dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest World Series contest ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Skipper Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a contest, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his team provided convincing evidence.

Early Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a base hit and scored on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early score did not rattle a Blue Jays club that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback victories this year.

They responded right away in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away base hit to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a curveball. Ohtani threw a slider up and Guerrero sent it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a fresh team record – regaining the Toronto's advantage after 13 scoreless innings and changing the tone of the night.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat phenomenon had smashed two homers and reached safely a historic 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 prior marathon.

His fastball velocity was under his regular-season average and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed flashes of his typical control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his Fall Classic streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: 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 came next when Ohtani finally lost steam.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh with a clean hit to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a two-base hit off the wall to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the inning.

Banda came into the jam and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a full count before driving in Varsho with a base hit to left field. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI singles through the infield, capping a four-run barrage that extended the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to withstand initial setbacks and respond has characterized their entire run. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt leadoff man who exited Game 3 after tweaking his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left multiple runners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He gave up one earned run on four hits and three walks before the manager called on first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth. Fluharty needed just four throws to get out Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile lead that quickly grew safe.

Former starter Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense kept to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only 3 scores over their last 20 innings, an sudden slowdown for a club that ranked among baseball's top offenses all season.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But Varland finished the game without permitting a rally to develop.

After a night when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of wasted opportunities, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. 6 separate Blue Jays collected hits, five brought home scores and the squad converted almost every scoring chance presented in the final innings.

Next Up

The victory ensures the World Series title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not won a championship since Carter's famous game-winning home run in 1993. They now are aware they are assured a full house in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup reset and energy swinging north. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto chased the starter quickly in an 11-4 victory.