🔗 Share this article

Less than a day following staggering through one of the most exhausting defeats in World Series history, the Blue Jays displayed total command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a composed start as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the World Series at two games each and ensuring the matchup will return to Canada.

The Blue Jays had passed the early hours of the next day processing their marathon third game defeat – tied for the longest World Series contest ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to lead the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a contest, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his team provided emphatic evidence.

Initial Action

The Los Angeles again scored first. Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a base hit and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays team that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They answered right away in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in hunting a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the series and his seventh home run this postseason – a new club record – regaining the Toronto's advantage after 13 shutout frames and changing the tone of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also halted Ohtani's history-making run of 11 consecutive plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat phenomenon had smashed two homers and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on that night, he started on short rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed was under his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the game progressed. Even so, he displayed glimpses of his typical control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in over six frames.

Late Game Surge

The bigger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when he finally lost steam.

Varsho started the seventh with a clean single to right field, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the mess and right away fell behind. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before driving in 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: Bo Bichette and Barger punched run-scoring base hits through the infield, completing a four-score barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to absorb initial blows and respond has defined their entire run. They once again did it without Springer, the injured leadoff man who exited Game 3 after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything Toronto required. Traded for mid-season while completing rehab from elbow surgery, the former Cy Young winner left multiple runners and silenced the Dodgers' dangerous lineup. He allowed one run on four base hits and three free passes before Schneider called on first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth. Fluharty required just 4 throws to retire Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile advantage that soon grew safe.

Former starter Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats continued to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only three scores over their previous 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a club that ranked among MLB's elite offenses all year.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles scraped a run in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Muncy's double put runners on base. But Varland finished the game without permitting a rally to develop.

After a game when Toronto left a World Series-record 19 runners and fell apart after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was brutally efficient. Six different Blue Jays recorded hits, 5 brought home runs and the squad converted almost every scoring opportunity presented in the final stanzas.

Next Up

The victory ensures the championship trophy will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not won a championship since Joe Carter's iconic walk-off homer in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Canada on Friday night – and perhaps the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game approaches with the matchup even and energy swinging north. Los Angeles left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Toronto's surge. Toronto counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased the starter quickly in an 11-4 win.