🔗 Share this article

Only 24 hours after staggering through one of the most draining defeats in World Series history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a composed outing as Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of Tuesday dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest World Series game ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to lead the series and depleted both relief corps. Manager John Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad provided convincing proof.

Initial Innings

The Dodgers again scored first. Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early score did not shake a Blue Jays club that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback victories this year.

They responded immediately in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one away single to center field and Guerrero came to the plate hunting a breaking ball. Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a fresh club mark – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and changing the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also halted Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The dual-threat star had smashed two homers and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His fastball velocity sat under his seasonal average and he struggled more as the game wore on. Even so, he displayed flashes of his typical control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and fanning six. He even walked in the first inning to extend his World Series streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four earned runs were charged to him in over six innings.

Late Game Surge

The larger issue for the Dodgers was what came next when he eventually lost steam.

Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the wall to put two on with no outs. Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who departed to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not complete the inning.

Banda inherited the jam and right away fell behind. Andrés Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in Varsho with a base hit to left. France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock the pitcher out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bichette and Barger punched RBI singles through the diamond, completing a four-run barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Toronto's capacity to withstand early setbacks and answer has characterized their entire postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured leadoff hitter who exited Game 3 after straining his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what Toronto needed. Traded for during the summer while completing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded several runners and quieted the Dodgers' potent batting order. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager summoned first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the heart of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just four throws to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a narrow lead that soon became safe.

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

Final Moments

The Los Angeles scraped a score in the ninth when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put two on base. But Varland closed it down without permitting a rally to build.

Following a game when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was brutally efficient. Six different Blue Jays recorded base hits, 5 brought home runs and the team cashed nearly every run-scoring chance available in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not celebrated a championship since Carter's iconic walk-off home run in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed crowd in Toronto on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the matchup reset and momentum swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with rookie 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 win.