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

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber provided a composed outing as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, squaring the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will head back to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had spent the morning of Tuesday processing their marathon third game defeat – equal to the longest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that denied them the chance to take the lead in the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Manager Schneider insisted afterwards that “they took a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his team provided convincing proof.

Initial Action

The Dodgers again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second, moved up on a base hit and scored on Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto club that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this season.

They responded immediately in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one away base hit to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in hunting a breaking ball. Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero sent it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a new club mark – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and shifting the momentum of the game.

Shohei's Performance

That swing also halted Shohei Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat star had hit two home runs and got on base a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' third game walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed sat under his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his Fall Classic streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

The bigger problem for Los Angeles was what followed when he finally lost steam.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a clean single to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the inning.

Anthony Banda inherited the mess and immediately fell behind. Giménez fought 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 knock the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the rally: Bichette and Barger hit RBI base hits through the infield, completing a four-run barrage that extended the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to absorb initial setbacks and answer has characterized their entire run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt leadoff man who exited the third game after straining his right side.

Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what Toronto needed. Traded for mid-season while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left several runners and silenced the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He allowed one run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager called on rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the core of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just 4 throws to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile lead that soon became safe.

Former starter Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' offense continued to sputter. The Dodgers have produced only 3 scores over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a club that was among baseball's top lineups all year.

Closing Innings

The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners aboard. But Varland closed it down without permitting a comeback to build.

Following a night when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and fell apart after repeated of missed chances, the fourth contest was brutally efficient. 6 separate Toronto players recorded base hits, 5 brought home runs and the team converted nearly every run-scoring opportunity available in the late stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a title since Carter's famous game-winning homer in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Canada on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game approaches with the series reset and momentum shifting to Toronto. Dodgers left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Blue Jays's surge. The Blue Jays counter with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto knocked out Snell early in an 11-4 victory.