Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers off Shohei Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Dodgers to Level World Series at 2-2

Less than a day after enduring one of the most draining defeats in Fall Classic annals, the Toronto Blue Jays played with total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a composed start as Toronto defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, squaring the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will head back to Canada.

Toronto had passed the early hours of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the longest World Series contest ever – a defeat that denied them the chance to take the lead in the matchup and depleted both bullpens. Skipper Schneider stated later that “the Dodgers took a game, not the World Series”. A day later, his team offered emphatic evidence.

Early Action

The Dodgers again scored first. 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 shake a Blue Jays club that topped Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this year.

They answered immediately in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away single to center field and Guerrero stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani left a slider up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the World Series and his seventh homer this postseason – a fresh club mark – restoring the Toronto's advantage after 13 shutout frames and changing the tone of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive at-bats reaching base. The dual-threat phenomenon had hit two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 comeback win. But on that night, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior extra-inning game.

Ohtani pitch speed was below his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the game wore on. Even so, he displayed glimpses of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even walked in the first inning to extend his World Series streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were charged to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

The larger issue for the Dodgers was what followed when he eventually lost energy.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh with a clean hit to right, and Clement smashed a two-base hit off the fence to put two 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 Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda inherited the mess and right away trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in Varsho with a base hit to left field. Ty France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the momentum: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger hit run-scoring base hits through the infield, capping a four-run outburst that extended the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to absorb early blows and respond has defined their entire run. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited the third game after straining his oblique.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what Toronto needed. Traded for during the summer while finishing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner left several runners and silenced the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He allowed one run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager summoned rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. He required just four pitches to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that quickly grew safe.

Former starter Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only three scores over their last 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a team that ranked among MLB's top lineups all year.

Closing Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth when Tommy Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's two-base hit put two aboard. But Varland finished the game without allowing a rally to build.

After a night when Toronto stranded a World Series-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of missed chances, the fourth contest was brutally efficient. 6 separate Toronto players recorded base hits, five brought home runs and the team cashed nearly every scoring opportunity available in the late innings.

Next Up

The win ensures the championship title will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's iconic game-winning homer in '93. They now are aware they are assured a full crowd in Canada on Friday night – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA.

Game 5 looms with the matchup reset and energy shifting north. Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Blue Jays's surge. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an decisive win.