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Less than a day after enduring one of the most draining defeats in World Series annals, the Blue Jays displayed total control.

Guerrero crushed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a composed start as Toronto defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the matchup will head back to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to take the lead in the series and burned through both relief corps. Manager Schneider insisted afterwards that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered convincing proof.

Initial Action

The Dodgers again scored first. Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a base hit and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto club that led MLB with 49 come-from-behind wins this season.

They responded immediately in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one-out single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate hunting a curveball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a new club record – restoring the Toronto's lead after 13 scoreless innings and changing the momentum of the night.

Ohtani's Night

That hit also ended Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 straight at-bats reaching base. The dual-threat star had hit two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the prior marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed sat below his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed flashes of his typical command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and striking out six. He even walked 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.

Late Game Surge

The bigger issue for the Dodgers was what came next when he finally ran out of steam.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean hit to right field, and Clement smashed a double off the fence to put runners on with none out. Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Banda inherited the jam and immediately trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring the runner with a single to left field. Ty France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove Banda out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger hit RBI singles through the diamond, completing a four-score outburst that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Toronto's capacity to withstand early setbacks and answer has characterized their entire run. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured leadoff hitter who left the third game after straining his oblique.

Bieber, meanwhile, was everything Toronto required. Acquired mid-season while completing recovery from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded multiple runners and silenced the Dodgers' dangerous lineup. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks before the manager called on rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just 4 pitches to get out Muncy and Edman, preserving a narrow lead that soon became safe.

Former starter Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats continued to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only three runs over their last 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a club that ranked among MLB's elite lineups all year.

Final Moments

The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth when Tommy Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But 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 wasted opportunities, Game 4 was brutally efficient. 6 separate Toronto players recorded base hits, 5 brought home scores and the squad converted nearly every scoring chance presented in the late innings.

Next Up

The victory ensures the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's iconic walk-off homer in 1993. They now know they are assured a full house in Canada on Friday night – and perhaps the next day – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the series even and momentum shifting to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Blue Jays's surge. The Blue Jays counter with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto chased the starter quickly in an 11-4 win.