🔗 Share this article Guerrero Blasts against Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Los Angeles to Tie Series at 2-2 Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most exhausting defeats in World Series annals, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed complete control. Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a steady start as the Blue Jays 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 matchup will return to Canada. Toronto had spent the morning of Tuesday processing their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest World Series contest ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to lead the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Skipper Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered convincing proof. Initial Innings The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this season. They responded right away in the third inning. Lukes lined a one-out single to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate hunting a curveball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero sent it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the World Series and his seventh home run this playoffs – a fresh club record – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless innings and changing the tone of the night. Ohtani's Performance That hit also halted Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight at-bats reaching base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he started on short rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous extra-inning game. Ohtani fastball velocity was under his seasonal norm and he labored more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four earned runs were charged to him in six-plus innings. Seventh Inning Rally The larger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when he finally lost steam. Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp single to right field, and Clement smashed a double off the fence to put runners on with no outs. Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Dodgers' relief corps could not finish the inning. Banda came into the jam and right away trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez fought to a full count before driving in the runner with a base hit to left field. France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen came in next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bo Bichette and Barger punched run-scoring singles through the infield, completing a four-run barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1. Blue Jays's Toughness The Blue Jays's capacity to absorb early blows and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order man who exited Game 3 after tweaking his right side. Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays required. Traded for mid-season while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded several baserunners and quieted the Dodgers' potent batting order. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks before Schneider summoned first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth. He required just four throws to get out Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a fragile lead that quickly became safe. Former starting pitcher Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats continued to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only three runs over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a team that was among baseball's elite offenses all season. Closing Moments The Los Angeles scraped a run in the ninth when Tommy Edman hit into an out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners on base. But Louis Varland finished the game without permitting a rally to develop. Following a game when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. 6 separate Toronto players recorded base hits, five brought home runs and the team converted nearly every run-scoring chance available in the late innings. Next Up The win ensures the championship title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a championship since Carter's famous walk-off homer in '93. They now are aware they are assured a full house in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what happens next in LA. The fifth game looms with the matchup reset and momentum shifting north. Los Angeles left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto counter with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an 11-4 victory.