Guerrero Homers against Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Dodgers to Tie Series at 2-2

Only 24 hours after enduring one of the most exhausting defeats in Fall Classic annals, the Blue Jays displayed total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Bieber delivered a composed outing as Toronto defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will head back to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had spent the early hours of Tuesday dealing with their marathon third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that denied them the chance to take the lead in the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Skipper John Schneider insisted later that “they won a game, not the World Series”. A day later, his team offered convincing proof.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early score did not shake a Toronto club that led MLB with 49 comeback wins this year.

They responded immediately in the third. Lukes lined a one away base hit to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a slider up and he drove it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this postseason – a fresh club record – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless frames and changing the momentum of the game.

Shohei's Night

That hit also ended Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat star had hit two homers and reached safely a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His fastball velocity sat under his seasonal average and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and striking out six. He even walked in the first inning to extend his World Series streak. But the Toronto made him work: six base hits and four runs were charged to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The bigger issue for Los Angeles was what followed when Ohtani finally lost energy.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp single to right field, and Clement smashed a two-base hit off the wall to put runners on with none out. Roberts had little choice but to remove the starter, who exited to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the inning.

Banda came into the mess and immediately fell behind. Andrés Giménez fought to a full count before scoring Varsho with a single to left. Ty France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove Banda out of the game. Treinen came in next but also failed to stem the rally: Bo Bichette and Barger punched run-scoring singles through the infield, capping a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Resilience

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand early setbacks and respond has characterized their whole run. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited Game 3 after straining his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything the Blue Jays required. Traded for during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded several runners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before the manager summoned first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just 4 throws to retire Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that soon became comfortable.

Converted starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' bats kept to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only 3 runs over their previous 20 frames, an sudden downturn for a club that was among baseball's top lineups all year.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But Louis Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to build.

After a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed chances, Game 4 was brutally efficient. 6 different Toronto players collected base hits, 5 drove in scores and the team converted almost every scoring opportunity presented in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The win guarantees the championship trophy will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Carter's iconic game-winning home run in '93. They now know they are assured a packed house in Canada on Friday evening – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the series even and momentum swinging to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Toronto's surge. Toronto respond with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased Snell early in an 11-4 win.