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Only 24 hours after enduring one of the most draining losses in Fall Classic annals, the Blue Jays displayed complete control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Bieber delivered a steady start as Toronto beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the series will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had spent the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the lengthiest World Series contest ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Manager John Schneider insisted afterwards that “they took a game, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered convincing proof.

Early Action

The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a base hit and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 comeback victories this season.

They answered right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one away base hit to centre and Guerrero stepped in looking for a curveball. Shohei Ohtani left a slider up and he sent it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a fresh team record – regaining the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 scoreless innings and shifting the tone of the night.

Shohei's Night

That hit also ended Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two homers and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 walk-off. But on that night, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior marathon.

His fastball velocity sat below his seasonal norm and he labored more as the contest wore on. Even so, he displayed glimpses of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and striking out six. He even walked in the first to continue his World Series streak. But the Toronto made him work: six base hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus frames.

Seventh Inning Rally

The larger issue for Los Angeles was what followed when he finally lost steam.

Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp single to right, and Clement smashed a double off the wall to put runners on with none out. Roberts had no option but to remove Ohtani, who departed to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Banda came into the mess and right away fell behind. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left field. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock the pitcher out of the game. Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI base hits through the infield, completing a four-run outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to absorb early setbacks and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without Springer, the injured leadoff hitter who exited the third game after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything Toronto needed. Traded for during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left 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 lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just 4 throws to retire Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that soon became comfortable.

Former starter Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' offense continued to sputter. The Dodgers have produced only three scores over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a team that was among baseball's elite offenses all year.

Final Innings

The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put two aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without permitting a rally to build.

Following a night when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of wasted chances, the fourth contest was brutally effective. Six separate Toronto players recorded hits, 5 brought home scores and the team cashed almost every run-scoring chance presented in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Carter's iconic walk-off homer in 1993. They now know they are assured a packed crowd in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game looms with the matchup reset and momentum shifting north. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Blue Jays's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out the starter quickly in an 11-4 victory.