Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers off Ohtani as Blue Jays See Off Dodgers to Tie Series at 2-2

Less than a day after staggering through one of the most draining defeats in World Series history, the Blue Jays played with complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber provided a steady start as the Blue Jays 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 spent the early hours of the next day 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 burned through both bullpens. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a contest, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided convincing evidence.

Initial Innings

The Dodgers again scored first. Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a base hit and scored on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that led MLB with 49 comeback victories this year.

They responded immediately in the third. Nathan Lukes lined a one away base hit to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani threw a slider up and he sent it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a fresh team mark – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and changing the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Night

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making streak of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat star had hit two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 comeback win. But on that night, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the prior marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed sat below his seasonal average and he struggled more as the game progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his usual command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his World Series record. But the Toronto made him work: six hits and four runs were charged to him in over six innings.

Late Game Surge

The bigger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani eventually ran out of steam.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean single to right, and Clement smashed a two-base hit off the fence to put runners on with none out. Roberts had little choice but to pull the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Dodgers' relief corps could not complete the escape.

Banda inherited the mess and right away trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left field. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bo Bichette and Addison Barger punched run-scoring base hits through the diamond, completing a four-score outburst that extended the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Toronto's ability to absorb initial blows and answer has characterized their entire postseason. They once again succeeded without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who left Game 3 after straining his right side.

Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Acquired mid-season while finishing recovery from Tommy John surgery, the former award-winning winner stranded multiple baserunners and silenced the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He gave up one earned run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider called on rookie pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the core of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just four pitches to get out Muncy and Edman, preserving a fragile advantage that soon grew comfortable.

Former starter Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats kept to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only 3 runs over their last 20 frames, an abrupt slowdown for a club that was among baseball's top lineups all season.

Closing Innings

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth when Tommy Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's double put runners on base. But Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to build.

After a game when the Blue Jays stranded a World Series-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. Six different Blue Jays recorded base hits, 5 drove in runs and the team converted almost every scoring opportunity presented in the final stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the World Series trophy will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's iconic game-winning homer in '93. They now know they are guaranteed a full house in Toronto on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the series reset and momentum shifting 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 Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an 11-4 win.