🔗 Share this article

Less than a day after staggering through one of the most exhausting defeats in Fall Classic annals, the Blue Jays played with complete command.

Guerrero smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a composed start as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, squaring the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the series will return to Canada.

Toronto had spent the early hours of the next day dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest Fall Classic contest ever – a defeat that denied them the chance to lead the matchup and burned through both relief corps. Skipper John Schneider insisted later that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the championship”. A day later, his squad provided convincing evidence.

Early Innings

The Dodgers again scored first. Max Muncy walked in the second, moved up on a single and scored on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto team that topped Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind victories this season.

They responded immediately in the third inning. Lukes lined a one-out single to center field and Guerrero stepped in hunting a curveball. Ohtani threw a slider up and Guerrero sent it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his seventh home run this postseason – a fresh team mark – regaining the Toronto's advantage after 13 shutout frames and changing the tone of the game.

Shohei's Performance

That hit also halted Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 consecutive at-bats reaching base. The dual-threat star 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 briefest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the prior extra-inning game.

His pitch speed was below his seasonal norm and he labored more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he showed 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 continue his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six base hits and four runs were charged to him in over six frames.

Seventh Inning Rally

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

Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp single to right, and Clement smashed a double off the fence to put two on with none out. Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who exited to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not finish the inning.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and right away fell behind. Andrés Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring the runner with a single to left. Ty France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock Banda out of the game. Treinen came in next but also was unable to stop the momentum: Bichette and Barger punched RBI singles through the diamond, completing a four-run outburst that extended the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to absorb initial blows and answer has characterized their entire run. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff man who left the third game after straining his right side.

Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays required. Acquired during the summer while completing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left multiple baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He gave up one run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider called on rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just 4 pitches to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile lead that quickly became comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' offense kept to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only 3 runs over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a team that ranked among MLB's elite offenses all year.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles scraped a score in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Varland closed it down without allowing a rally to develop.

Following a night when Toronto left a World Series-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, the fourth contest was ruthlessly efficient. Six separate Blue Jays recorded base hits, five brought home scores and the team converted nearly every scoring chance presented in the final stanzas.

Next Up

The win guarantees the championship title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not won a championship since Joe Carter's famous game-winning home run in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed house in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game approaches with the matchup even and momentum shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto chased Snell quickly in an decisive win.