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Only 24 hours after enduring one of the most exhausting losses in Fall Classic annals, the Blue Jays played with complete command.

Guerrero smashed a two-run homer and Shane Bieber provided 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 wins apiece and ensuring the series will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest World Series contest ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to lead the series and depleted both relief corps. Skipper Schneider insisted afterwards that “the Dodgers took a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his team offered emphatic evidence.

Early Innings

The Los Angeles again struck first. Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, moved up on a single and scored on Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not shake a Blue Jays club that led MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this season.

They answered right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one away single to center field and Guerrero stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a sweeper up and Guerrero sent it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his first long hit of the World Series and his 7th home run this postseason – a new club record – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout innings and shifting the tone of the game.

Shohei's Night

That hit also ended Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The two-way star had hit two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 comeback win. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

Ohtani fastball velocity was below his seasonal norm and he labored more as the game progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed flashes of his typical control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his Fall Classic streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were charged to him in over six innings.

Late Game Rally

The bigger issue for the Dodgers was what followed when Ohtani finally ran out of steam.

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp single to right, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the fence to put runners on with none out. Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the escape.

Banda inherited the jam and right away fell behind. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before scoring the runner with a single to left. France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stem the momentum: Bo Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, completing a four-run barrage that extended the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's ability to absorb initial setbacks and answer has defined their whole run. They once again did it without George Springer, the injured top-of-the-order hitter who exited Game 3 after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything Toronto needed. Traded for during the summer while finishing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner left multiple baserunners and silenced the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three free passes before the manager summoned rookie left-hander Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth. Fluharty needed just four pitches to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a fragile advantage that quickly became comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense continued to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only three scores over their last 20 innings, an abrupt slowdown for a club that was among baseball's elite offenses all season.

Closing Innings

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman grounded out to bring home Hernández after a base on balls and Max Muncy's double put runners on base. But Louis Varland closed it down without permitting a rally to build.

After a night when the Blue Jays stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after repeated of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. 6 different Toronto players collected base hits, five drove in runs and the squad converted almost every scoring opportunity presented in the late innings.

Next Up

The win ensures the championship title will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a title since Joe Carter's famous game-winning home run in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed crowd in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup even and momentum shifting to Toronto. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Blue Jays's surge. The Blue Jays counter with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell early in an 11-4 victory.