Guerrero Homers against Shohei Ohtani as Toronto See Off Los Angeles to Tie World Series at 2-2

Less than a day following enduring one of the most exhausting losses in World Series history, the Toronto Blue Jays played with complete control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a steady outing as Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, tying the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the matchup will return to Toronto.

Toronto had passed the early hours of Tuesday dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that cost them the chance to take the lead in the series and burned through both bullpens. Manager Schneider insisted later that “they took a game, not the championship”. A day later, his squad provided emphatic proof.

Initial Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, advanced on a base hit and scored on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto club that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this season.

They answered immediately in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one away base hit to center field and Guerrero came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani left a sweeper up and he sent it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his seventh home run this playoffs – a fresh club record – regaining the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 scoreless frames and changing the tone of the night.

Shohei's Night

That hit also halted Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 consecutive plate appearances getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on limited rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His pitch speed sat below his seasonal average and he struggled more as the game wore on. Even so, he displayed glimpses of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six base hits and four earned runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

The larger issue for Los Angeles was what came next when Ohtani finally lost energy.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp single to right, and Clement smashed a two-base hit off the wall to put two on with no outs. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Dodgers' relief corps could not finish the escape.

Banda inherited the jam and right away fell behind. Giménez fought to a full count before driving in Varsho with a single to left. Ty France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the game. Treinen came in next but also was unable to stop the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger punched run-scoring base hits through the diamond, completing a four-score outburst that extended the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to withstand early setbacks and answer has defined their entire run. They once again succeeded without Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who exited Game 3 after straining his oblique.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what Toronto needed. Traded for during the summer while finishing recovery from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded multiple baserunners and quieted the Dodgers' potent batting order. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider called on rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth. He required just four throws to retire Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that soon became safe.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' bats kept to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only three scores over their last 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a club that was among MLB's elite lineups all year.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles scraped a score in the ninth inning when Edman grounded out to bring home Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's double put two aboard. But Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop.

Following a night when the Blue Jays stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of wasted chances, Game 4 was brutally effective. Six different Blue Jays collected base hits, 5 drove in scores and the team converted almost every scoring chance available in the final stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the championship trophy will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Carter's iconic game-winning home run in 1993. They now are aware they are assured a packed crowd in Toronto on Friday evening – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup reset and energy shifting north. Los Angeles left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's surge. Toronto counter with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Blue Jays knocked out Snell early in an 11-4 win.