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Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most draining losses in World Series history, the Blue Jays displayed complete control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a steady start as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, squaring the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the matchup will head back to Canada.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their marathon third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that cost them the chance to take the lead in the series and depleted both bullpens. Manager John Schneider stated later that “the Dodgers took a game, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered convincing proof.

Early Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, advanced on a base hit and scored on Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto club that topped MLB with 49 comeback wins this year.

They responded right away in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one-out base hit to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a curveball. Ohtani threw a slider up and he sent it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a fresh club mark – regaining the Toronto's lead after 13 scoreless innings and shifting the tone of the game.

Shohei's Night

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The dual-threat phenomenon had hit two home runs and got on base a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' third game walk-off. But on Tuesday, he started on short rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed was below his regular-season average and he labored more as the contest progressed. Even so, he showed flashes of his usual control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and fanning six. He even walked in the first to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The larger issue for Los Angeles was what came next when Ohtani finally lost steam.

Varsho opened the seventh inning with a clean single to right, and Clement smashed a double off the wall to put runners on with none out. Roberts had no option but to pull Ohtani, who departed to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the inning.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and immediately fell behind. Giménez battled to a full count before scoring the runner with a base hit to left field. France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen came in next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Barger hit RBI singles through the infield, capping a four-score barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to absorb early blows and answer has characterized their whole run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited Game 3 after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything Toronto required. Acquired mid-season while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- award-winning winner left multiple runners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager summoned rookie left-hander Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. He needed just four pitches to get out Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile advantage that quickly became comfortable.

Former starter Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats continued to sputter. Los Angeles have scored only three scores over their last 20 innings, an sudden slowdown for a team that was among MLB's elite lineups all season.

Closing Innings

The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth when Edman grounded out to score Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put two on base. But Louis Varland closed it down without permitting a comeback to develop.

Following a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed chances, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. 6 separate Toronto players recorded hits, five drove in runs and the team cashed almost every run-scoring opportunity presented in the late innings.

Next Up

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

Game 5 approaches with the matchup reset and energy swinging north. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Blue Jays's surge. Toronto respond with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto chased the starter quickly in an 11-4 win.