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Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most exhausting losses in Fall Classic history, the Blue Jays played with complete control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Bieber provided a steady outing as Toronto beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will return to Canada.

Toronto had spent the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – tied for the longest World Series 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 “the Dodgers took a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his team offered convincing proof.

Early Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy drew a walk in the second, advanced on a base hit and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not shake a Toronto club that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind wins this season.

They answered right away in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one-out single to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his first long hit of the series and his 7th homer this postseason – a fresh team record – regaining the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout frames and shifting the momentum of the night.

Ohtani's Night

That swing also ended Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive at-bats reaching base. The dual-threat star had smashed two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game walk-off. But on that night, he started on short rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

His fastball velocity was below his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the game progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first to extend his World Series streak. But the Toronto made him work: six base hits and four earned runs were credited to him in six-plus innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

The larger issue for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani finally lost energy.

Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp hit to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the wall to put runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the inning.

Banda inherited the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a base hit to left. Ty 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 game. Blake Treinen came in next but also was unable to stem the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI singles through the diamond, completing a four-score outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to withstand early blows and answer has defined their entire run. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured leadoff man who exited Game 3 after tweaking his oblique.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what Toronto needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left multiple baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He gave up one run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager summoned first-year left-hander Fluharty to confront the core of the lineup in the sixth. He required just 4 throws to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow lead that quickly grew comfortable.

Converted starter Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense kept to sputter. The Dodgers have produced only 3 runs over their last 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a club that ranked among baseball's top offenses all season.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's two-base hit put runners on base. But Varland closed it down without allowing a rally to build.

Following a game when the Blue Jays stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. Six separate Toronto players recorded base hits, 5 drove in scores and the squad cashed almost every run-scoring opportunity presented in the late stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the championship title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not won a title since Carter's iconic game-winning homer in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed house in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the series even and momentum shifting north. Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto chased the starter quickly in an decisive win.