🔗 Share this article

Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most draining losses in World Series history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Bieber provided a composed start as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will head back to Canada.

Toronto had spent the early hours of Tuesday dealing with their marathon third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest World Series game ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to lead the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Skipper Schneider stated later that “they took a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his team provided convincing evidence.

Early Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy drew a walk in the second, moved up on a base hit and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 comeback victories this season.

They responded immediately in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one-out base hit to center field and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero sent it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a fresh club mark – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless innings and changing the tone of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat phenomenon had smashed two homers and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game walk-off. But on that night, he started on limited rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous extra-inning game.

His fastball velocity was below his seasonal average and he labored more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his typical control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and striking out six. He even walked in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were charged to him in over six frames.

Late Game Surge

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani eventually lost steam.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh with a sharp hit to right, and Clement smashed a double off the wall to put runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Dodgers' relief corps could not complete the inning.

Banda came into the jam and right away fell behind. Giménez battled to a full count before driving in the runner with a base hit to left field. France followed 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 stem the momentum: Bo Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring base hits through the infield, completing a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Resilience

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand early blows and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order hitter who left Game 3 after tweaking his oblique.

Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what Toronto needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded multiple baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He gave up one run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider called on rookie pitcher Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just four pitches to get out Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that soon grew safe.

Converted starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats continued to sputter. Los Angeles have scored only three scores over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a club that ranked among MLB's top offenses all season.

Final Moments

The Los Angeles scraped a run in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put two on base. But Varland closed it down without permitting a rally to develop.

Following a game when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed opportunities, the fourth contest was brutally effective. Six different Blue Jays collected base hits, five brought home runs and the team converted almost every scoring chance presented in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the World Series trophy will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a championship since Joe Carter's iconic game-winning homer in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full crowd in Canada on Friday night – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 looms with the series reset and momentum swinging to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out Snell early in an decisive win.