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Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most exhausting losses in Fall Classic annals, the Toronto Blue Jays played with total command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the series will return to Canada.

The Blue Jays had passed the early hours of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the longest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that denied them the chance to take the lead in the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Skipper Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers took a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered emphatic proof.

Early Action

The Los Angeles again struck first. 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 early breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 comeback victories this year.

They responded immediately in the third. Lukes lined a one away single to center field and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a curveball. Shohei Ohtani threw a slider up and he drove it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a new team record – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless innings and changing the tone of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also ended Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on that night, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the prior marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed was under his seasonal average and he labored more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were credited to him in six-plus innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The bigger problem for Los Angeles was what followed when he finally ran out of energy.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh with a clean hit to right, and Clement drilled a double off the fence to put runners on with none out. Roberts had no option but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the inning.

Anthony Banda inherited the jam and immediately trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez fought to a full count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bichette and Barger punched run-scoring singles through the diamond, capping a four-run barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Resilience

The Toronto's capacity to absorb initial blows and answer has characterized their entire postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured leadoff man who left the third game after straining 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 award-winning winner left multiple baserunners and silenced the Los Angeles' dangerous batting order. He allowed one run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider summoned rookie pitcher Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth. Fluharty needed just four pitches to get out Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a narrow lead that soon became comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' offense continued to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only 3 scores over their last 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a club that was among baseball's top lineups all season.

Closing Innings

The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put runners on base. But Varland finished the game without permitting a comeback to build.

Following a game when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. 6 separate Toronto players collected base hits, 5 drove in scores and the squad cashed almost every scoring opportunity available in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The win guarantees the championship title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a championship since Carter's iconic game-winning homer in '93. They now know they are assured a packed house in Toronto on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the series reset and momentum shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays counter with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased Snell early in an 11-4 win.