Guerrero Homers off Ohtani as Toronto See Off Los Angeles to Level Series at 2-2

Only 24 hours after staggering through one of the most exhausting losses in World Series history, the Blue Jays played with complete command.

Guerrero smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the matchup will return to Canada.

The Blue Jays had passed the early hours of the next day dealing with their 18-inning Game 3 loss – tied for the lengthiest World Series game ever – a loss that denied them the chance to lead the matchup and depleted both relief corps. Skipper John Schneider stated afterwards that “they won a contest, not the championship”. A day later, his squad provided emphatic proof.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again struck first. Muncy walked in the second, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 comeback victories this season.

They answered immediately in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one-out base hit to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in hunting a curveball. Shohei Ohtani threw a slider up and he sent it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his seventh homer this postseason – a fresh team mark – regaining the Toronto's lead after 13 shutout frames and changing the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 consecutive plate appearances getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had hit two homers and reached safely a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game walk-off. 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 pitch speed was under his seasonal norm and he labored more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and striking out six. He even walked in the first to extend his Fall Classic streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

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

Varsho started the seventh with a sharp hit to right, and Clement smashed a double off the fence to put two on with no outs. Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who departed to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Dodgers' relief corps could not complete the escape.

Banda inherited the jam and right away fell behind. Andrés Giménez fought to a full count before driving in the runner with a single to left. Ty France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the game. Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger hit RBI base hits through the infield, completing a four-run barrage that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's capacity to withstand initial setbacks and respond has characterized their entire run. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order hitter who left Game 3 after straining his oblique.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was everything the Blue Jays required. Acquired mid-season while finishing recovery from elbow surgery, the former Cy Young winner stranded several runners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager summoned rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the core of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just 4 pitches to get out Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that soon became safe.

Converted starter Chris Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to sputter. Los Angeles have produced only three runs over their last 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a club that was among baseball's top lineups all year.

Final Moments

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

Following a night when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and fell apart after repeated of wasted opportunities, the fourth contest was brutally effective. Six different Toronto players collected base hits, five brought home runs and the team cashed nearly every run-scoring chance presented in the final stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not won a championship since Carter's famous walk-off homer in '93. They now know they are guaranteed a packed crowd in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA.

The fifth game approaches with the series reset and momentum swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto knocked out the starter early in an decisive victory.