🔗 Share this article Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers off Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Los Angeles to Level Series at 2-2 Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most draining defeats in World Series annals, the Blue Jays displayed total command. Guerrero crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a steady outing as Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will head back to Canada. The Blue Jays had passed the early hours of Tuesday processing their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that cost them the chance to take the lead in the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Skipper John Schneider stated afterwards that “they won a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided emphatic evidence. Early Innings The Dodgers again scored first. Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto team that led MLB with 49 comeback wins this season. They responded right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a one away base hit to center field and Guerrero stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a slider up and Guerrero sent it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a fresh team mark – restoring the Toronto's lead after 13 scoreless innings and changing the momentum of the game. Shohei's Night That hit also halted Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive at-bats reaching base. The two-way star had hit two homers and reached safely a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 comeback win. But on that night, he started on short rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon. His pitch speed sat below his seasonal norm and he labored more as the game wore on. Nonetheless, he showed flashes of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and fanning six. He even walked in the first inning to continue his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were credited to him in over six innings. Seventh Inning Surge The larger problem for Los Angeles was what followed when Ohtani finally ran out of steam. Daulton Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp single to right field, and Ernie Clement drilled a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not finish the inning. Anthony Banda inherited the jam and immediately trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before scoring the runner with a base hit to left field. Ty France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen came in next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Barger punched RBI base hits through the infield, completing a four-score barrage that extended the lead to 6-1. Toronto's Resilience The Blue Jays's ability to withstand initial blows and answer has characterized their whole run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order man who exited Game 3 after tweaking his right side. Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what Toronto required. Traded for during the summer while completing recovery from elbow surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded multiple runners and quieted the Los Angeles' dangerous batting order. He gave up one earned run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider summoned first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. He needed just 4 throws to get out Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile advantage that soon grew comfortable. Converted starter Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense continued to sputter. The Dodgers have scored only three runs over their previous 20 frames, an sudden downturn for a team that ranked among MLB's top offenses all year. Closing Moments The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners aboard. But Varland finished the game without permitting a rally to build. After a night when Toronto stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed chances, the fourth contest was ruthlessly effective. 6 separate Toronto players collected base hits, five brought home scores and the team converted nearly every scoring chance presented in the final innings. Looking Ahead The win guarantees the championship title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Carter's famous game-winning homer in '93. They now are aware they are assured a full house in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in LA. Game 5 approaches with the matchup even and energy swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays counter with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Blue Jays knocked out Snell early in an decisive victory.