🔗 Share this article Vladimir Guerrero Jr Blasts against Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Dodgers to Level Series at 2-2 Less than a day following enduring one of the most draining defeats in World Series history, the Toronto Blue Jays played with total command. Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Bieber provided a composed outing as Toronto beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, tying the World Series at two games each and ensuring the matchup will return to Canada. Toronto had passed the early hours of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the longest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that denied them the opportunity to lead the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider insisted afterwards that “the Dodgers won a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered emphatic evidence. Initial Innings The Dodgers again scored first. Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, advanced on a single and scored on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Toronto team that topped MLB with 49 comeback victories this season. They responded immediately in the third. Lukes hit a one away base hit to center field and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in hunting a curveball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and he sent it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the series and his seventh home run this postseason – a fresh team record – restoring the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless frames and changing the momentum of the game. Shohei's Night That hit also halted Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 consecutive at-bats reaching base. The two-way star had smashed two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Los Angeles' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the prior extra-inning game. Ohtani fastball velocity was below his regular-season norm and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he showed glimpses of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to continue his World Series record. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six base hits and four runs were charged to him in six-plus frames. Late Game Surge The larger problem for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani finally lost steam. Varsho started the seventh with a clean hit to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a two-base hit off the fence to put two on with no outs. Dave 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 finish the inning. Banda inherited the jam and immediately trailed in the count. 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 failed to stop the momentum: Bo Bichette and Barger hit RBI singles through the diamond, capping a four-run outburst that extended the lead to 6-1. Toronto's Resilience The Toronto's ability to absorb early blows and respond has defined their entire postseason. They once again did it without Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited Game 3 after straining his right side. Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what Toronto needed. Acquired mid-season while finishing recovery from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner stranded several runners and silenced the Dodgers' dangerous batting order. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three free passes before Schneider summoned first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the order in the sixth inning. He needed just four pitches to retire Max Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow lead that quickly became comfortable. Former starter Chris Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings as the Dodgers' bats continued to struggle. The Dodgers have scored only 3 runs over their previous 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a club that ranked among baseball's elite lineups all season. Final Moments The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth when Edman grounded out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Max Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Louis Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to develop. Following a night when Toronto stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. 6 separate Blue Jays collected hits, 5 brought home runs and the squad cashed nearly every run-scoring chance available in the final innings. Looking Ahead The win ensures the World Series title will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a title since Carter's iconic game-winning homer in '93. They now know they are guaranteed a full house in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA. Game 5 looms with the series even and energy shifting north. Los Angeles left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Blue Jays knocked out the starter quickly in an 11-4 victory.