🔗 Share this article Guerrero Blasts against Ohtani as Blue Jays Defeat Los Angeles to Level Series at 2-2 Less than a day after staggering through one of the most draining losses in Fall Classic annals, the Blue Jays displayed complete command. Guerrero crushed a two-run homer and Bieber provided a composed start as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two games each and ensuring the series will head back to Toronto. The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day processing their marathon Game 3 loss – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that cost them the opportunity to take the lead in the matchup and burned through both relief corps. Skipper John Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a contest, not the World Series”. A day later, his squad offered convincing evidence. Initial Action The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto team that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback wins this year. They answered right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a one away base hit to centre and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero sent it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his initial extra-base hit of the series and his seventh home run this playoffs – a new team record – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout innings and changing the tone of the game. Ohtani's Night That hit also ended Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had hit two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Dodgers' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the prior marathon. His fastball velocity sat below his seasonal average and he labored more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and fanning six. He even walked in the first to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in over six innings. Late Game Rally The larger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani finally lost steam. Varsho opened the seventh with a clean single to right field, and Clement smashed a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with none out. Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who departed to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Dodgers' relief corps could not complete the inning. Banda came into the mess and immediately fell behind. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left. Ty France came up next with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove Banda out of the contest. Treinen entered next but also failed to stem the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger hit RBI singles through the infield, capping a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1. Blue Jays's Toughness The Blue Jays's ability to absorb early setbacks and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who left Game 3 after straining his right side. Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what Toronto needed. Acquired during the summer while completing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner left several runners and silenced the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks before the manager summoned first-year left-hander Fluharty to confront the core of the order in the sixth. He needed just four throws to get out Muncy and Edman, preserving a fragile advantage that quickly became safe. Former starter Chris Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' bats continued to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only 3 scores over their last 20 frames, an abrupt downturn for a team that ranked among baseball's top offenses all year. Closing Innings The Los Angeles managed a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put two aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without permitting a comeback to develop. After a night when the Blue Jays left a World Series-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. 6 separate Blue Jays recorded hits, 5 brought home scores and the team converted almost every run-scoring opportunity available in the late stanzas. Looking Ahead The victory ensures the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's iconic game-winning home run in '93. They now know they are assured a full crowd in Canada on Friday night – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA. The fifth game looms with the matchup even and momentum shifting north. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of Game 1, when the Toronto knocked out the starter quickly in an 11-4 win.