Guerrero Homers against Shohei Ohtani as Blue Jays Defeat Dodgers to Level Series at 2-2

Only 24 hours following staggering through one of the most draining losses in Fall Classic history, the Blue Jays displayed complete control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a composed outing as Toronto defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the Fall Classic at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that denied them the opportunity to lead the series and burned through both bullpens. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a game, not the championship”. A day later, his squad offered emphatic evidence.

Early Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a base hit and scored on Hernández's fly out. But the initial score did not rattle a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They answered immediately in the third. Nathan 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 he drove it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a new club record – restoring the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout frames and shifting the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The dual-threat phenomenon had smashed two homers and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on Tuesday, he started on short rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior extra-inning game.

His pitch speed was under his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he showed glimpses of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even walked in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus frames.

Late Game Rally

The larger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when Ohtani finally lost steam.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean hit to right, and Clement drilled a double off the fence to put runners on with none out. Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not finish the inning.

Banda inherited the jam and right away fell behind. Giménez fought to a full count before driving in Varsho with a single to left field. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock Banda out of the game. Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger punched run-scoring base hits through the diamond, capping a four-run outburst that extended the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand early setbacks and answer has defined their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff man who left Game 3 after tweaking his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything the Blue Jays needed. Traded for during the summer while completing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded several runners and silenced the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider called on first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just four pitches to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that soon became safe.

Former starting pitcher Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats continued to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only 3 runs over their last 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a club that was among MLB's elite offenses all season.

Final Innings

The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth inning when Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners aboard. But Louis Varland closed it down without permitting a comeback to build.

Following a game when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 runners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed opportunities, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. Six separate Blue Jays recorded base hits, five drove in runs and the team cashed almost every scoring chance available in the late innings.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the championship title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not won a title since Carter's famous walk-off home run in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed house in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup even and momentum shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Toronto's surge. Toronto counter with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto chased Snell quickly in an decisive victory.