🔗 Share this article Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers off Ohtani as Toronto See Off Los Angeles to Level Series at 2-2 Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most exhausting losses in Fall Classic annals, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed complete control. Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Bieber provided a steady start as the Blue Jays beat the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will head back to Toronto. Toronto had spent the morning of Tuesday processing their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the longest World Series contest ever – a defeat that denied them the chance to lead the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a contest, not the championship”. A day later, his team offered convincing proof. Initial Action The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a base hit and scored on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays team that led MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this season. They answered immediately in the third inning. Lukes hit a one-out base hit to centre and Guerrero stepped in looking for a curveball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a fresh team mark – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless innings and changing the momentum of the game. Shohei's Performance That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 straight at-bats reaching base. The two-way star had smashed two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the previous extra-inning game. His fastball velocity sat below his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the game progressed. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were credited to him in over six frames. Seventh Inning Rally The bigger issue for Los Angeles was what came next when he finally ran out of steam. Varsho opened the seventh inning with a sharp single to right field, and Clement smashed a double off the wall to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull Ohtani, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Dodgers' relief corps could not finish the inning. Banda inherited the jam and immediately trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a full count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left. France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock Banda out of the game. Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bichette and Barger hit RBI singles through the diamond, capping a four-run outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1. Toronto's Resilience The Blue Jays's ability to absorb initial blows and answer has defined their entire postseason. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order man who left the third game after straining his right side. Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Acquired mid-season while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded multiple runners and silenced the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He gave up one run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager called on rookie left-hander Fluharty to face the heart of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just four throws to get out Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a fragile lead that soon became safe. Converted starting pitcher Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only three runs over their previous 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a team that was among baseball's top offenses all year. Final Moments The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without permitting a comeback to develop. After a night when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 runners and fell apart after repeated of missed chances, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. Six separate Toronto players collected hits, five drove in runs and the squad converted nearly every run-scoring chance available in the late stanzas. Next Up The victory ensures the championship trophy will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not celebrated a championship since Carter's iconic game-winning homer in 1993. They now know they are guaranteed a full house in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps the next day – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles. The fifth game looms with the series even and momentum swinging north. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Blue Jays's surge. The Blue Jays respond with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto chased the starter quickly in an decisive victory.