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Only 24 hours after staggering through one of the most draining losses in World Series annals, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber provided a steady outing as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, squaring the Fall Classic at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will head back to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their marathon third game defeat – equal to the longest World Series contest ever – a loss that cost them the opportunity to take the lead in the matchup and depleted both bullpens. Manager John Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered emphatic evidence.

Early Action

The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback victories this year.

They responded right away in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one away single to center field and Guerrero stepped in hunting a breaking ball. Ohtani left a slider up and Guerrero sent it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the series and his seventh homer this playoffs – a fresh club mark – restoring the Toronto's advantage after 13 scoreless frames and changing the tone of the night.

Shohei's Night

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two homers and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the prior extra-inning game.

Ohtani fastball velocity was below his regular-season average and he labored more as the game wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his typical control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning 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 credited to him in six-plus frames.

Seventh Inning Rally

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

Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean single to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a two-base hit off the wall to put two on with no outs. Roberts had little choice but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the escape.

Anthony Banda came into the mess and right away fell behind. Andrés Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left field. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the contest. Blake Treinen came in next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI singles through the infield, completing a four-score barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

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

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what 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 Dodgers' dangerous lineup. He gave up one run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider called on first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just four throws to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow lead that soon became safe.

Former starter Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats continued to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only 3 scores over their previous 20 innings, an sudden slowdown for a club that ranked among baseball's top offenses all season.

Closing Innings

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's double put two aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to develop.

After a game when the Blue Jays stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed chances, Game 4 was brutally efficient. 6 separate Blue Jays collected hits, five drove in runs and the squad converted nearly every run-scoring chance available in the final stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The win guarantees the World Series trophy will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's iconic walk-off homer in 1993. They now know they are assured a full house in Canada on Friday night – and perhaps the next day – no matter what happens next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the series reset and energy shifting north. Dodgers left-hander Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Blue Jays chased the starter early in an 11-4 victory.