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Less than a day after enduring one of the most exhausting defeats in Fall Classic history, the Blue Jays displayed total command.

Guerrero smashed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a steady start as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had passed the morning of Tuesday processing their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that denied them the opportunity to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Skipper Schneider insisted afterwards that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided emphatic proof.

Early Innings

The Los Angeles again struck first. Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto club that led MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They responded immediately in the third. Lukes lined a one away base hit to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani threw a slider up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a fresh team mark – restoring the Toronto's advantage after 13 scoreless innings and shifting the momentum of the game.

Shohei's Night

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The two-way phenomenon had hit two homers and reached safely a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on that night, he started on limited rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His pitch speed was below his seasonal average and he struggled more as the game progressed. Even so, he displayed flashes of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and striking out six. He even walked in the first to continue his Fall Classic streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six base hits and four earned runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

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

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with none out. Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and right away fell behind. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left field. France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen came in next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bo Bichette and Barger punched run-scoring base hits through the infield, capping a four-score outburst that extended the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Resilience

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand early setbacks and answer has characterized their entire run. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured leadoff hitter who left Game 3 after tweaking his right side.

Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays required. Traded for mid-season while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded multiple baserunners and quieted the Dodgers' potent lineup. He allowed one run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider summoned rookie left-hander Fluharty to confront the heart of the order in the sixth. He required just four throws to get out Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a narrow lead that quickly became comfortable.

Converted starter Chris Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' offense continued to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only 3 runs over their previous 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a club that was among baseball's top lineups all year.

Closing Innings

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth when Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Varland closed it down without permitting a comeback to develop.

After a game when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed chances, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. 6 different Blue Jays collected base hits, five brought home runs and the team cashed nearly every scoring chance available in the late stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The win guarantees the World Series title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a title since Carter's famous game-winning homer in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Toronto on Friday evening – and perhaps the next day – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the series even and energy shifting north. Los Angeles left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Toronto's momentum. Toronto counter with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out the starter early in an decisive victory.