🔗 Share this article

Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most exhausting defeats in Fall Classic annals, the Blue Jays played with complete control.

Guerrero smashed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a composed start as Toronto defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, tying the World Series at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the series 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 longest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that denied them the chance to take the lead in the series and depleted both relief corps. Skipper John Schneider stated later that “they took a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his team offered emphatic evidence.

Early Action

The Dodgers again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second, moved up on a base hit and scored on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early score did not shake a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They responded immediately in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one-out base hit to center field and Guerrero stepped in hunting a breaking ball. Ohtani left a slider up and he sent it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his initial extra-base hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this postseason – a new club mark – regaining the Toronto's lead after 13 scoreless frames and changing the tone of the night.

Shohei's Performance

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive plate appearances getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two home runs and got on base a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His fastball velocity sat under his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his typical 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 extend his Fall Classic streak. But the Toronto made him work: six base hits and four earned runs were charged to him in over six frames.

Late Game Rally

The bigger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when Ohtani eventually lost steam.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean hit to right field, and Clement drilled a double off the wall to put runners on with no outs. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda inherited the mess and right away fell behind. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring the runner with a base hit to left. Ty France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen came in next but also was unable to stem the rally: Bichette and Barger punched RBI base hits through the diamond, capping a four-run barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Resilience

The Toronto's capacity to withstand early blows and answer has defined their entire run. They once again did it without Springer, the injured leadoff hitter who exited Game 3 after tweaking his oblique.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Traded for mid-season while finishing recovery from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded multiple runners and silenced the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He gave up one run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider called on first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth. He needed just 4 pitches to retire Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that quickly grew safe.

Former starter Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense kept to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only 3 runs over their last 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a club that was among MLB's top lineups all season.

Closing Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth when Tommy Edman hit into an out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But Louis Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop.

Following a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. 6 separate Blue Jays recorded hits, five drove in scores and the team cashed almost every run-scoring opportunity available in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not won a championship since Carter's iconic game-winning homer in 1993. They now are aware they are assured a packed crowd in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game looms with the matchup even and energy swinging north. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's surge. Toronto respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto chased the starter quickly in an decisive victory.