🔗 Share this article Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers against Ohtani as Toronto See Off Los Angeles to Tie Series at 2-2 Less than a day following staggering through one of the most draining losses in World Series annals, the Blue Jays played with total command. Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Bieber provided a composed outing as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, squaring the Fall Classic at two games each and guaranteeing the series will return to Toronto. Toronto had spent the morning of the next day dealing with their marathon third game defeat – tied for the longest World Series game ever – a defeat that denied them the opportunity to lead the series and burned through both relief corps. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his team provided convincing evidence. Initial Innings The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a single and scored on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial score did not rattle a Blue Jays club that led Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this season. They responded right away in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one-out single to center field and Guerrero came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a fresh team mark – regaining the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout innings and changing the tone of the night. Ohtani's Performance That hit also ended Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive plate appearances getting on base. The two-way star had hit two homers and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon. His fastball velocity sat below his regular-season average and he labored more as the game progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his typical control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his Fall Classic streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in over six innings. Late Game Surge The bigger issue for the Dodgers was what came next when Ohtani finally lost steam. Varsho started the seventh with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the wall to put two on with none out. Roberts had little choice but to remove the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not finish the inning. Anthony Banda came into the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a full count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left. France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stem the rally: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched run-scoring base hits through the infield, completing a four-score outburst that pushed the lead to 6-1. Toronto's Resilience The Blue Jays's ability to absorb initial setbacks and respond has characterized their whole run. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order man who left Game 3 after straining his right side. Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what Toronto required. Acquired during the summer while finishing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded several baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' dangerous batting order. He allowed one run on four base hits and three free passes before Schneider summoned first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just 4 throws to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile lead that soon grew safe. Converted starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only 3 runs over their previous 20 frames, an sudden downturn for a club that ranked among MLB's top lineups all year. Final Moments The Dodgers scraped a score in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's double put runners on base. But Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop. Following a game when Toronto left a World Series-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was brutally effective. 6 separate Toronto players recorded base hits, 5 drove in runs and the squad cashed nearly every run-scoring opportunity available in the late stanzas. Next Up The victory ensures the championship trophy will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a title since Joe Carter's iconic walk-off home run in '93. They now are aware they are assured a packed house in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps the next day – no matter what happens next in LA. Game 5 looms with the matchup reset and energy shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Blue Jays's surge. Toronto counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto knocked out the starter early in an decisive victory.