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Only 24 hours after enduring one of the most exhausting defeats in World Series annals, the Toronto Blue Jays played with complete control.

Guerrero smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber delivered a composed outing as Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the series will return to Toronto.

Toronto had spent the early hours of Tuesday processing their marathon third game defeat – equal to the longest World Series contest ever – a loss that denied them the chance to lead the matchup and depleted both bullpens. Manager John Schneider stated later that “the Dodgers won a game, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered emphatic proof.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the initial score did not rattle a Toronto team that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They responded right away in the third inning. Lukes hit a one-out single to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in looking for a curveball. Ohtani left a sweeper up and he sent it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his seventh homer this postseason – a new club record – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and changing the tone of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 consecutive plate appearances 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 took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His pitch speed sat below his regular-season average and he labored more as the game progressed. Even so, he displayed glimpses of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were credited to him in over six frames.

Late Game Rally

The larger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when Ohtani finally lost steam.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh with a clean hit to right field, and Ernie Clement drilled a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who departed to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the mess and right away trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in Varsho with a single to left. Ty France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen came in next but also was unable to stem the momentum: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched run-scoring singles through the diamond, completing a four-score barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to absorb initial setbacks and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again did it without Springer, the injured leadoff man who exited Game 3 after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded multiple baserunners and silenced the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He allowed one run on four hits and three free passes before the manager summoned rookie left-hander Fluharty to face the heart of the order in the sixth inning. He needed just 4 throws to retire Muncy and Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that quickly grew comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' bats continued to sputter. The Dodgers have produced only 3 scores over their last 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a team that ranked among MLB's elite lineups all season.

Final Moments

The Dodgers scraped a score in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman hit into an out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's double put two on base. But Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop.

After a night when the Blue Jays stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and fell apart after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. 6 different Toronto players collected hits, 5 brought home scores and the team cashed nearly every run-scoring chance presented in the late innings.

Next Up

The victory ensures the World Series title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not won a championship since Joe Carter's famous game-winning homer in '93. They now know they are assured a packed crowd in Canada on Friday evening – and perhaps the next day – no matter what occurs next in LA.

The fifth game looms with the series even and energy swinging to Toronto. Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays counter with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto chased Snell quickly in an decisive win.