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Only 24 hours after enduring one of the most draining losses in World Series annals, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total control.

Guerrero crushed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber provided a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, squaring the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the series will head back to Canada.

Toronto had passed the morning of the next day processing their marathon third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider stated afterwards that “they won a contest, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his team provided convincing proof.

Early Innings

The Los Angeles again scored 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 early breakthrough did not shake a Toronto club that led MLB with 49 comeback victories this season.

They answered right away in the third inning. Lukes lined a one-out single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in looking for a curveball. Shohei Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero sent it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his first long hit of the series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a new club record – restoring the Toronto's lead after 13 shutout frames and changing the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also halted Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 consecutive at-bats reaching base. The dual-threat star had smashed two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

His fastball velocity was under his seasonal average and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even walked in the first to extend his Fall Classic streak. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six base hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Surge

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what came next when he finally ran out of energy.

Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp hit to right, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the wall to put two on with no outs. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull Ohtani, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Dodgers' relief corps could not complete the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the mess and right away trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left. Ty France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock Banda out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stem the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, completing a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to withstand initial setbacks and answer has characterized their whole run. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order hitter who exited the third game after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Acquired during the summer while completing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded several runners and silenced the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider summoned rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the order in the sixth. Fluharty required just four throws to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile lead that soon grew safe.

Converted starter Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats kept to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only three scores over their previous 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a club that ranked among MLB's top offenses all season.

Closing Innings

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put two aboard. But Louis Varland closed it down without permitting a comeback to build.

Following a game when Toronto stranded a World Series-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. Six separate Toronto players recorded base hits, 5 drove in scores and the team cashed nearly every run-scoring opportunity presented in the final innings.

Next Up

The win guarantees the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's famous game-winning home run in 1993. They now know they are assured a packed crowd in Canada on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the series reset and momentum shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's surge. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell quickly in an decisive victory.