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Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most draining defeats in World Series history, the Blue Jays played with complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber provided a composed outing as Toronto defeated the 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 return to Canada.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that denied them the opportunity to take the lead in the series and depleted both bullpens. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers took a game, not the championship”. A day later, his team offered convincing proof.

Early Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that led MLB with 49 come-from-behind wins this season.

They answered immediately in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away single to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Ohtani left a slider up and he sent it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his seventh homer this postseason – a fresh team mark – restoring the Toronto's advantage after 13 shutout innings and changing the momentum of the game.

Shohei's Night

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat star had hit two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he started on short rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the prior marathon.

His fastball velocity was below his seasonal norm and he labored more as the game wore on. Nonetheless, he displayed flashes of his typical control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his World Series record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Rally

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what came next when he finally ran out of steam.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right field, and Clement drilled a two-base hit off the wall to put runners on with no outs. Roberts had little choice but to pull the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and right away trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a full count before driving in the runner with a single to left field. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the game. Treinen came in next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI singles through the infield, capping a four-run outburst that extended the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to absorb early setbacks and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again did it without Springer, the injured leadoff hitter who exited the third game after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was everything Toronto required. Traded for during the summer while completing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded multiple baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He gave up one run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider summoned rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the lineup in the sixth. Fluharty required just 4 pitches to retire Muncy and Edman, preserving a fragile advantage that quickly grew comfortable.

Converted starter Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' offense kept to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only 3 runs over their previous 20 innings, an sudden slowdown for a team that was among MLB's top lineups all year.

Final Innings

The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put runners on base. But Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop.

After a game when the Blue Jays stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed chances, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. Six separate Blue Jays collected base hits, five drove in runs and the team cashed almost every scoring chance available in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the World Series title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Carter's famous walk-off homer in '93. They now are aware they are assured a full crowd in Canada on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the series even and momentum shifting north. Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's surge. The Blue Jays counter with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto knocked out the starter quickly in an 11-4 victory.