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

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered 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 wins apiece and ensuring the series will head back to Canada.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of Tuesday processing their 18-inning Game 3 loss – tied for the longest World Series game ever – a defeat that denied them the chance to take the lead in the matchup and depleted both bullpens. Manager John Schneider insisted afterwards that “they took a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered convincing evidence.

Early Action

The Los Angeles again scored first. Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a single and scored on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays team that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They responded right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a one-out base hit to center field and Guerrero came to the plate hunting a curveball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a fresh team record – restoring the Toronto's lead after 13 shutout innings and shifting the tone of the night.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also halted Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on that night, he took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the prior marathon.

His fastball velocity was below his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he showed flashes of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his World Series record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Surge

The bigger problem for Los Angeles was what followed when he finally ran out of steam.

Varsho started the seventh with a clean hit to right, and Clement drilled a double off the wall to put runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not complete the escape.

Banda inherited the jam and right away trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in Varsho with a base hit to left. Ty France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock the pitcher out of the game. Treinen came in next but also was unable to stem the rally: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI base hits through the infield, completing a four-score barrage that extended the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Resilience

The Toronto's capacity to withstand early blows and answer has characterized their whole run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt leadoff man who left the third game after tweaking his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what Toronto required. Acquired during the summer while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded several runners and quieted the Los Angeles' dangerous batting order. He allowed one earned run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager called on first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just four pitches to get out Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile lead that quickly grew comfortable.

Converted starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats kept to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only 3 scores over their previous 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a club that ranked among MLB's top offenses all season.

Final Innings

The Dodgers scraped a score in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But Louis Varland closed it down without allowing a rally to develop.

After a night when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and fell apart after repeated of wasted chances, Game 4 was brutally effective. 6 separate Blue Jays collected base hits, five brought home scores and the squad cashed almost every run-scoring opportunity presented in the final stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a championship since Carter's iconic walk-off home run in '93. They now are aware they are assured a full crowd in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA.

The fifth game looms with the series reset and momentum swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Blue Jays's surge. Toronto counter with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an decisive victory.