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Only 24 hours after enduring one of the most exhausting losses in World Series history, the Blue Jays displayed total command.

Guerrero smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber delivered a composed outing as Toronto beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will head back to Canada.

Toronto had passed the morning of Tuesday processing their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that denied them the opportunity to lead the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a game, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered convincing evidence.

Initial Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy walked in the second, advanced on a base hit and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays team that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this season.

They answered immediately in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away base hit to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in hunting a curveball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero sent it screaming over the left-center wall. It was his initial extra-base hit of the World Series and his seventh homer this postseason – a fresh club record – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and shifting the momentum of the game.

Shohei's Night

That hit also halted Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 consecutive plate appearances getting on base. The dual-threat phenomenon had hit two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 comeback win. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the previous extra-inning game.

His fastball velocity was under his seasonal average and he struggled more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he showed flashes of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus frames.

Seventh Inning Surge

The larger issue for the Dodgers was what came next when he finally lost energy.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right field, and Clement smashed a two-base hit off the wall to put runners on with no outs. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who exited to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not complete the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the mess and right away fell behind. Andrés Giménez battled to a full count before scoring the runner with a base hit to left. France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen came in next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bo Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring singles through the diamond, completing a four-run barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Resilience

The Toronto's ability to absorb early setbacks and respond has defined their entire run. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who left Game 3 after straining his oblique.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was everything the Blue Jays needed. Traded for during the summer while completing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner left several baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks before the manager summoned first-year left-hander Fluharty to confront the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just 4 pitches to retire Muncy and Edman, preserving a fragile lead that soon became safe.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' offense kept to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only 3 runs over their previous 20 frames, an sudden downturn for a team that was among MLB's top lineups all season.

Final Moments

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a walk and Muncy's double put two on base. But Louis Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to build.

Following a game when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and collapsed after wave upon wave of wasted chances, the fourth contest was brutally efficient. 6 separate Blue Jays collected base hits, five drove in runs and the team converted nearly every scoring opportunity available in the final innings.

Next Up

The win ensures the championship title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not won a title since Carter's famous game-winning homer in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Canada on Friday evening – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game looms with the series even and momentum shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Toronto's momentum. Toronto respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an 11-4 win.