Guerrero Blasts off Shohei Ohtani as Blue Jays Defeat Los Angeles to Level World Series at 2-2

Less than a day following enduring one of the most exhausting losses in World Series annals, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Bieber delivered a steady start as Toronto beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, tying the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the series will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had passed the early hours of Tuesday processing their marathon third game defeat – tied for the longest World Series contest ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to take the lead in the series and depleted both relief corps. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a contest, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided convincing proof.

Initial Action

The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays team that topped MLB with 49 comeback victories this season.

They answered immediately in the third inning. Lukes hit a one away single to centre and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a curveball. Ohtani threw a slider up and he drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a new club record – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and shifting the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also ended Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The two-way star had hit two homers and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the prior extra-inning game.

Ohtani fastball velocity sat below his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed flashes of his typical control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his World Series streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

The bigger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when Ohtani finally lost steam.

Varsho opened the seventh with a clean single to right, and Ernie Clement smashed a two-base hit off the wall to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove Ohtani, who departed to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Dodgers' relief corps could not finish the escape.

Banda inherited the mess and immediately trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez battled to a full count before scoring the runner with a single to left. Ty France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stem the rally: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI singles through the infield, capping a four-run outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

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

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything the Blue Jays needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded multiple baserunners and silenced the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He allowed one run on four base hits and three free passes before Schneider summoned rookie left-hander Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just four throws to get out Max Muncy and Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that soon became comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only 3 scores over their last 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a club that was among MLB's elite offenses all year.

Final Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners aboard. But Louis Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to build.

Following a night when the Blue Jays stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. 6 different Toronto players collected hits, 5 brought home scores and the squad cashed nearly every scoring chance available in the late stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the championship title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not celebrated a championship since Joe Carter's famous walk-off home run in 1993. They now are aware they are assured a packed crowd in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps the next day – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

The fifth game approaches with the series reset and energy swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays counter with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an 11-4 win.