🔗 Share this article Guerrero Homers against Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Los Angeles to Tie World Series at 2-2 Less than a day following enduring one of the most draining defeats in Fall Classic history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total command. Guerrero crushed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber delivered a composed start as Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the World Series at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the matchup will head back to Toronto. The Blue Jays had spent the morning of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the longest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that cost them the opportunity to lead the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Manager Schneider stated later that “they took a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided emphatic evidence. Initial Innings The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto club that topped MLB with 49 comeback wins this year. They answered immediately in the third. Lukes hit a one away base hit to center field and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a curveball. Ohtani left a sweeper up and he drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a new team mark – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and shifting the momentum of the game. Ohtani's Performance That hit also ended Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive plate appearances reaching base. The dual-threat star had hit two homers and got on base a historic nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 walk-off. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior extra-inning game. His fastball velocity was under his seasonal norm and he labored more as the contest progressed. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his World Series streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in six-plus innings. Late Game Surge The larger issue for the Dodgers was what came next when he finally ran out of energy. Daulton 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 runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull Ohtani, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not finish the inning. Banda came into the mess and immediately fell behind. Andrés Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before scoring the runner with a single to left field. Ty France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock Banda out of the contest. Blake Treinen came in next but also was unable to stem the momentum: Bo Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring base hits through the infield, completing a four-score outburst that pushed the lead to 6-1. Toronto's Resilience The Blue Jays's ability to absorb early setbacks and answer has defined their entire postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the injured top-of-the-order man who exited the third game after straining his oblique. Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what Toronto needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded several runners and silenced the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before the manager called on first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth inning. He needed just four pitches to retire Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that soon became safe. Converted starter Chris Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' offense continued to sputter. Los Angeles have scored only 3 scores over their previous 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a team that ranked among baseball's elite offenses all year. Final Innings The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put two on base. But Louis Varland closed it down without permitting a comeback to develop. Following a night when the Blue Jays stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of wasted chances, Game 4 was brutally efficient. 6 separate Toronto players recorded hits, 5 brought home scores and the squad converted nearly every scoring opportunity available in the late innings. Next Up The win guarantees the championship title will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a championship since Carter's iconic game-winning homer in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full house in Canada on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles. Game 5 looms with the series even and momentum shifting 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 Game 1, when the Blue Jays knocked out Snell quickly in an decisive win.