🔗 Share this article

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

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the series will head back to Canada.

Toronto had passed the morning of Tuesday dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the lengthiest World Series contest ever – a loss that denied them the chance to lead the series and depleted both relief corps. Skipper John Schneider insisted afterwards that “they won a contest, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his team offered convincing evidence.

Initial Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second, advanced on a single and scored on Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays team that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback victories this year.

They responded immediately in the third. Lukes hit a one-out base hit to center field and Guerrero stepped in hunting a curveball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his seventh homer this postseason – a fresh club record – regaining the Toronto's advantage after 13 scoreless innings and changing the momentum of the game.

Shohei's Night

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight at-bats reaching base. The two-way star had hit two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous extra-inning game.

His fastball velocity was below his regular-season average and he struggled more as the contest progressed. Even so, he showed glimpses of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four earned runs were credited to him in six-plus innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when he finally lost steam.

Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp single to right field, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the wall to put runners on with no outs. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the inning.

Anthony Banda inherited the mess and immediately fell behind. Andrés Giménez fought to a full count before driving in the runner with a single to left field. France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger punched run-scoring singles through the diamond, completing a four-run barrage that extended the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to withstand initial setbacks and answer has defined their whole run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited Game 3 after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything the Blue Jays required. Traded for mid-season while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded several baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks before Schneider called on rookie pitcher Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth. He required just 4 pitches to get out Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a fragile lead that quickly grew safe.

Converted starter Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to sputter. The Dodgers have scored only 3 scores over their last 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a team that ranked among baseball's elite lineups all season.

Final Innings

The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's double put runners on base. But Louis Varland finished the game without permitting a comeback to build.

After a game when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of missed chances, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. Six different Blue Jays recorded hits, 5 brought home runs and the squad cashed nearly every scoring opportunity available in the late innings.

Next Up

The victory ensures the championship title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a championship since Carter's iconic game-winning home run in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the series even and energy shifting to Toronto. Dodgers left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's surge. Toronto respond with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out the starter quickly in an 11-4 win.