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

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a steady outing as the Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will return to Toronto.

Toronto had spent the early hours of Tuesday processing their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the longest World Series game ever – a loss that cost them the chance to lead the series and depleted both bullpens. Skipper Schneider stated later that “they took a contest, not the championship”. A day later, his team provided emphatic evidence.

Early Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays club that led Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this season.

They responded right away in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one-out single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the World Series and his seventh home run this playoffs – a new club record – restoring the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 scoreless frames and shifting the momentum of the night.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also halted Shohei Ohtani's history-making streak 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' third game walk-off. But on that night, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed was under his seasonal average and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his typical control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were credited to him in six-plus frames.

Seventh Inning Surge

The larger issue for the Dodgers was what followed when he eventually ran out of energy.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement smashed a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with no outs. Roberts had little choice but to remove Ohtani, who departed to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the inning.

Anthony Banda inherited the jam and immediately fell behind. Giménez fought to a full count before driving in the runner with a single to left. France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock the pitcher out of the contest. Treinen came in next but also was unable to stem the rally: Bichette and Barger punched RBI base hits through the infield, capping a four-score outburst that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Resilience

The Blue Jays's capacity to absorb initial blows and respond has characterized their whole run. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order hitter who exited Game 3 after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays required. Traded for during the summer while completing recovery from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded multiple baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks before Schneider called on rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the core of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just four throws to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a fragile advantage that quickly became safe.

Converted starter Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only three runs over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a team that was among MLB's top offenses all season.

Closing Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But Varland finished the game without permitting a rally to develop.

After a game when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was brutally efficient. Six separate Blue Jays collected hits, five brought home scores and the team cashed almost every scoring opportunity presented in the late stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series trophy will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a championship since Carter's famous walk-off homer in '93. They now know they are guaranteed a full crowd in Toronto on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the series even and energy swinging north. Dodgers left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's surge. The Blue Jays counter with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto knocked out the starter quickly in an 11-4 win.