🔗 Share this article

Less than a day after enduring one of the most exhausting losses in Fall Classic history, the Blue Jays displayed complete command.

Guerrero crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a steady start as Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the series will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had spent the morning of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that denied them the chance to take the lead in the matchup and burned through both relief corps. Skipper Schneider insisted afterwards that “they took a game, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered convincing proof.

Early Action

The Dodgers again scored first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early score did not rattle a Toronto team that topped Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this season.

They responded right away in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one away base hit to center field and Guerrero stepped in hunting a curveball. Ohtani left a slider up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a new club record – regaining the Toronto's lead after 13 shutout innings and shifting the momentum of the night.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also halted Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat star had smashed two homers and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed sat under his regular-season average and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he displayed flashes of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and striking out six. He even walked in the first inning to continue his World Series record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were credited to him in six-plus frames.

Seventh Inning Surge

The bigger issue for the Dodgers was what followed when he finally lost steam.

Varsho started the seventh with a clean single to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the wall to put runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who departed to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a full count before scoring the runner with a base hit to left field. Ty France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the contest. Treinen came in next but also was unable to stem the momentum: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger hit run-scoring base hits through the infield, completing a four-run barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand early blows and answer has defined their whole run. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt leadoff man who left the third game after tweaking his oblique.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything the Blue Jays required. Traded for mid-season while completing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded multiple runners and quieted the Dodgers' potent lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager called on first-year pitcher Fluharty to confront the heart of the order in the sixth inning. He needed just four throws to get out Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile lead that quickly became comfortable.

Former starter Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats kept to struggle. The Dodgers have scored only three runs over their last 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a team that ranked among MLB's top lineups all year.

Final Innings

The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman hit into an out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put two aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to build.

Following a night when the Blue Jays stranded a World Series-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of missed chances, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. 6 separate Blue Jays collected base hits, five brought home runs and the squad converted nearly every run-scoring chance presented in the late stanzas.

Next Up

The win guarantees the World Series trophy will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not won a championship since Carter's famous walk-off homer in '93. They now are aware they are assured a full crowd in Canada on Friday evening – and perhaps the next day – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the series reset and momentum shifting to Toronto. Dodgers left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's surge. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Blue Jays chased Snell early in an 11-4 win.