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Only 24 hours after staggering through one of the most exhausting losses in World Series annals, the Blue Jays played with total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a steady outing as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, squaring the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the matchup will return to Canada.

The Blue Jays had spent the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the longest World Series contest ever – a defeat that denied them the opportunity to lead the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Skipper Schneider stated afterwards that “they won a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his team offered emphatic proof.

Early Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, advanced on a base hit and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial score did not shake a Blue Jays team that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback victories this season.

They responded right away in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away single to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a curveball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he sent it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his 7th home run this postseason – a fresh club mark – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless frames and changing the tone of the night.

Shohei's Performance

That swing also ended Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat phenomenon had smashed two homers and reached safely a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on that night, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous extra-inning game.

Ohtani fastball velocity was below his seasonal average and he labored more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he showed glimpses of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his World Series record. But the Toronto made him work: six base hits and four earned runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The bigger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when he finally lost energy.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning 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 standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the inning.

Banda came into the mess and right away fell behind. Giménez battled to a full count before driving in the runner with a base hit to left. France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring base hits through the infield, completing a four-run outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to withstand initial setbacks and answer has characterized their entire run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order man who left the third game after tweaking his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything the Blue Jays needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former Cy Young winner left several baserunners and silenced the Dodgers' dangerous lineup. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks before Schneider called on first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the order in the sixth inning. He required just four pitches to get out Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow lead that soon grew safe.

Converted starter Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats kept to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only three scores over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a club that was among baseball's top lineups all season.

Closing Innings

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's double put runners on base. But Varland closed it down without permitting a rally to build.

Following a game when Toronto stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of missed opportunities, the fourth contest was brutally effective. 6 separate Toronto players recorded base hits, 5 brought home runs and the squad converted almost every scoring opportunity presented in the late stanzas.

Next Up

The win ensures the World Series trophy will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's famous walk-off homer in '93. They now know they are guaranteed a full crowd in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game looms with the matchup reset and energy swinging to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Blue Jays's surge. Toronto counter with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out the starter quickly in an 11-4 victory.