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Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most exhausting defeats in World Series history, the Toronto Blue Jays played with complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a composed start as Toronto defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two games each and ensuring the series will head back to Canada.

The Blue Jays had passed the early hours of Tuesday processing their 18-inning Game 3 loss – tied for the longest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that cost them the opportunity to take the lead in the series and burned through both bullpens. Manager John Schneider insisted afterwards that “the Dodgers won a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered convincing evidence.

Early Innings

The Dodgers again scored first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, advanced on a base hit and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays team that topped Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They responded immediately in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one away base hit to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a curveball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his initial extra-base hit of the series and his seventh home run this playoffs – a fresh team record – restoring the Toronto's advantage after 13 shutout innings and changing the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also halted Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive plate appearances reaching base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on that night, he took the mound on limited rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous extra-inning game.

Ohtani pitch speed was below his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed flashes of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his World Series streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six base hits and four runs were charged to him in over six frames.

Seventh Inning Rally

The bigger issue for the Dodgers was what came next when he eventually ran out of steam.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp single to right field, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull Ohtani, who departed to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Banda inherited the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a single to left field. France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen came in next but also was unable to stem the rally: Bo Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, capping a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

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

Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto required. Traded for during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left several runners and quieted the Dodgers' potent batting order. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three free passes before the manager called on first-year pitcher Fluharty to confront the core of the lineup in the sixth. Fluharty needed just four pitches to get out Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile advantage that soon became safe.

Converted starter Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' offense continued to sputter. Los Angeles have scored only 3 runs over their last 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a club that ranked among baseball's top offenses all year.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles scraped a score in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman hit into an out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without permitting a comeback to build.

After a game when the Blue Jays stranded a World Series-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed opportunities, the fourth contest was brutally efficient. 6 different Blue Jays recorded base hits, five drove in runs and the squad converted nearly every scoring chance available in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series trophy will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not won a title since Joe Carter's famous game-winning home run in 1993. They now are aware they are assured a packed house in Toronto on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game approaches with the series even and energy swinging north. Los Angeles left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto chased the starter quickly in an 11-4 win.