Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers off Ohtani as Blue Jays See Off Los Angeles to Tie Series at 2-2

Less than a day after enduring one of the most draining losses in World Series annals, the Blue Jays displayed complete command.

Guerrero crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two games each and ensuring the matchup will return to Toronto.

Toronto had passed the morning of Tuesday processing their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that cost them the opportunity to lead the series and burned through both relief corps. Skipper Schneider stated later that “they won a contest, not the championship”. A day later, his squad offered convincing evidence.

Early Action

The Dodgers again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early score did not shake a Blue Jays club that topped Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this year.

They answered immediately in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one-out single to centre and Guerrero stepped in looking for a curveball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he sent it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the series and his seventh home run this playoffs – a fresh team record – restoring the Toronto's lead after 13 shutout innings and shifting the momentum 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 phenomenon had smashed two home runs and got on base a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the prior extra-inning game.

His pitch speed sat under his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the game wore on. Nonetheless, he displayed flashes of his typical command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto made him work: six base hits and four earned runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Rally

The bigger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani finally lost steam.

Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right, and Clement drilled a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who exited to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not finish the inning.

Banda came into the mess and right away fell behind. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a single to left field. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger punched run-scoring singles through the infield, capping a four-score barrage that extended the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Resilience

The Blue Jays's capacity to withstand initial blows and answer has defined their entire run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order man who exited the third game after tweaking his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto required. Acquired mid-season while finishing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded several baserunners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous lineup. He gave up one run on four base hits and three walks before the manager called on rookie left-hander Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just four pitches to get out Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that quickly grew comfortable.

Former starter Chris Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' offense kept to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only three runs over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a team that was among MLB's top lineups all season.

Final Moments

The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth when Tommy Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But Varland closed it down without permitting a rally to build.

Following a game when the Blue Jays left a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. 6 different Blue Jays recorded hits, five brought home scores and the team converted nearly every scoring chance presented in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the championship trophy 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 are aware they are assured a full house in Canada on Friday night – and possibly Saturday – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

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