🔗 Share this article Guerrero Homers against Shohei Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Los Angeles to Level Series at 2-2 Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most exhausting losses in Fall Classic history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total command. Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a steady outing as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, tying the World Series at two games each and ensuring the series will return to Canada. The Blue Jays had passed the morning of Tuesday dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the longest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to lead the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Skipper John Schneider insisted later that “they took a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his team provided convincing evidence. Initial Action The Los Angeles again struck first. Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays team that topped Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind victories this season. They answered right away in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one away base hit to centre and Guerrero came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he sent it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a new team record – restoring the Toronto's lead after 13 scoreless innings and changing the momentum of the night. Ohtani's Performance That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The two-way star had smashed two homers and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 comeback win. But on that night, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior marathon. His fastball velocity was under his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the game progressed. Even so, he showed flashes of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his World Series record. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were credited to him in over six frames. Seventh Inning Rally The larger problem for Los Angeles was what followed when he finally lost steam. Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the wall to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull the starter, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not finish the escape. Banda came into the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a full count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left field. France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock Banda out of the contest. Blake Treinen came in next but also failed to stem the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI base hits through the diamond, completing a four-run barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1. Toronto's Resilience The Toronto's ability to withstand early blows and respond has defined their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who exited the third game after straining his right side. Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Traded for during the summer while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded several runners and quieted the Dodgers' potent lineup. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks before Schneider called on first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just 4 throws to get out Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a narrow lead that quickly grew comfortable. Converted starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense kept to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only three scores over their last 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a club that was among MLB's elite offenses all season. Final Moments The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners on base. But Louis Varland finished the game without permitting a comeback to develop. Following a night when Toronto left a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of wasted opportunities, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. 6 separate Blue Jays recorded hits, five brought home runs and the team converted nearly every run-scoring chance available in the final stanzas. Looking Ahead The victory ensures the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a title since Carter's famous game-winning home run in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Canada on Friday evening – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA. The fifth game approaches with the matchup even and momentum shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays counter with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out Snell early in an 11-4 win.