🔗 Share this article Vladimir Guerrero Jr Blasts against Shohei Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Dodgers to Tie Series at 2-2 Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most draining losses in World Series annals, the Blue Jays played with complete command. Guerrero smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber provided a steady outing as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the series will head back to Canada. Toronto had spent the early hours of the next day dealing with their marathon third game defeat – tied for the longest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that cost them the opportunity to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider stated afterwards that “they won a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered convincing proof. Initial Innings The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Toronto team that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this season. They answered right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one-out base hit to centre and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a slider up and Guerrero drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a new team record – regaining the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 scoreless innings and changing the tone of the game. Ohtani's Performance That hit also ended Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The two-way 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 started on limited rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon. His fastball velocity sat under his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he showed flashes of his usual 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 Toronto forced him to labor: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in six-plus innings. Late Game Surge The larger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when he eventually ran out of steam. Daulton Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the fence to put runners on with no outs. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who departed to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the inning. Anthony Banda inherited the mess and right away trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a single to left. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the game. Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the rally: Bo Bichette and Barger punched run-scoring singles through the diamond, capping a four-score barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1. Toronto's Toughness The Toronto's capacity to absorb initial setbacks and answer has defined their entire run. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who left the third game after straining his oblique. Shane Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto needed. Acquired during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner left multiple runners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He gave up one run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider called on rookie pitcher Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. He needed just 4 throws to get out Max Muncy and Edman, preserving a fragile advantage that quickly became safe. Converted starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' offense continued to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only three runs over their last 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a team that ranked among baseball's top offenses all season. Final Innings The Los Angeles scraped a score in the ninth when Tommy Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put runners aboard. But Varland closed it down without permitting a rally to develop. Following a night when the Blue Jays stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. 6 different Toronto players recorded hits, five brought home scores and the squad converted nearly every run-scoring opportunity available in the final innings. Next Up The win ensures the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Carter's famous walk-off home run in 1993. They now know they are assured a full house in Canada on Friday evening – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA. Game 5 approaches with the matchup even and momentum swinging north. Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Blue Jays knocked out Snell quickly in an decisive victory.