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Less than a day following staggering through one of the most exhausting defeats in World Series annals, the Blue Jays displayed total command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a composed start as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the series will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had spent the early hours of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest World Series game ever – a loss that denied them the opportunity to lead the matchup and burned through both relief corps. Manager John Schneider insisted later that “the Dodgers won a game, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad provided convincing proof.

Initial Innings

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

They responded right away in the third. Lukes hit a one away single to center field and Guerrero came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Ohtani left a slider up and he sent it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the series and his seventh home run this postseason – a fresh club record – restoring the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout frames and shifting the tone of the night.

Shohei's Performance

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight at-bats reaching base. The two-way star had hit two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His pitch speed was below his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the contest progressed. Even so, he showed flashes of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and striking out six. He even walked in the first to extend his World Series streak. But the Toronto made him work: six base hits and four earned runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The larger issue for the Dodgers was what came next when Ohtani eventually lost energy.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right, and Clement smashed a double off the fence to put runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull Ohtani, who departed to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Dodgers' relief corps could not finish the escape.

Banda inherited the mess and right away fell behind. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left field. France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the game. Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Barger punched RBI singles through the diamond, capping a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to absorb initial blows and answer has characterized their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who exited the third game after straining his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what Toronto needed. Traded for during the summer while completing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner left multiple runners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He allowed one run on four base hits and three walks before the manager called on first-year left-hander Fluharty to confront the heart of the order in the sixth. He required just 4 pitches to get out Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that soon became comfortable.

Converted starter Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' bats kept to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only three scores over their last 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a team that ranked among baseball's top lineups all season.

Closing Innings

The Los Angeles scraped a run in the ninth inning when Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without allowing a rally to develop.

After a game when the Blue Jays stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after repeated of missed chances, Game 4 was brutally effective. 6 different Toronto players recorded base hits, 5 drove in scores and the team cashed almost every run-scoring opportunity presented in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not celebrated a championship since Joe Carter's famous game-winning home run in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Canada on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup reset and momentum shifting to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Toronto's surge. Toronto respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell quickly in an decisive victory.