Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers against Shohei Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Dodgers to Level Series at 2-2

Only 24 hours after staggering through one of the most draining losses in Fall Classic history, the Blue Jays displayed complete command.

Guerrero crushed a two-run home run and Bieber provided a composed start as Toronto beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will head back to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had spent the morning of Tuesday processing their marathon third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest World Series game ever – a loss that denied them the chance to lead the series and depleted both bullpens. Skipper Schneider insisted afterwards that “the Dodgers took a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered convincing evidence.

Early Innings

The Dodgers again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early score did not shake a Blue Jays team that led Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They responded right away in the third. Lukes hit a one away base hit to center field and Guerrero came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani left a slider up and he drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the series and his seventh homer this postseason – a new team record – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and shifting the tone of the game.

Shohei's Night

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight at-bats reaching base. The dual-threat star had smashed two home runs and got on base a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' third game walk-off. But on that night, he started on short rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior extra-inning game.

Ohtani pitch speed sat under his regular-season norm and he labored more as the game wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto made him work: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Surge

The larger problem for Los Angeles was what followed when Ohtani eventually lost steam.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with no outs. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull the starter, who departed to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the escape.

Anthony Banda inherited the mess and immediately fell behind. Andrés Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a base hit to left field. France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen came in next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, capping a four-run barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to absorb initial blows and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff man who exited Game 3 after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what Toronto needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the former Cy Young winner stranded several runners and silenced the Dodgers' potent batting order. He gave up one earned run on four hits and three free passes before the manager called on first-year left-hander Fluharty to confront the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just four pitches to retire Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that quickly became comfortable.

Converted starter Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats kept to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only three scores over their previous 20 frames, an sudden downturn for a team that was among baseball's elite offenses all year.

Final Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put two aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without allowing a rally to build.

After a night when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of missed chances, Game 4 was brutally efficient. 6 different Blue Jays recorded base hits, 5 brought home runs and the squad converted almost every scoring chance available in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The win guarantees the World Series trophy will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Joe Carter's iconic walk-off homer in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed crowd in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game looms with the series reset and energy shifting to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's surge. Toronto counter with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out Snell quickly in an 11-4 victory.