Guerrero Blasts against Ohtani as Toronto See Off Los Angeles to Tie World Series at 2-2

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

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run homer and Bieber provided a composed start as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, squaring the Fall Classic at two games each and ensuring the matchup will return to Canada.

Toronto had passed the morning of Tuesday dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to take the lead in the series and burned through both bullpens. Skipper Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a contest, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his team provided emphatic proof.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, advanced on a base hit and scored on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early score did not shake a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 comeback victories this season.

They responded immediately in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one away base hit to center field and Guerrero stepped in looking for a curveball. Ohtani left a sweeper up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a new team record – restoring the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 shutout frames and shifting the tone of the game.

Shohei's Performance

That hit also halted Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The two-way phenomenon had hit two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 comeback win. But on that night, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

Ohtani fastball velocity was below his regular-season average and he struggled more as the contest wore on. Nonetheless, he showed glimpses of his usual control, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were charged to him in over six innings.

Late Game Rally

The larger issue for Los Angeles was what followed when Ohtani eventually ran out of steam.

Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean hit to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the wall to put runners on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull the starter, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not complete the inning.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and immediately fell behind. Giménez fought to a full count before scoring Varsho with a single 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 game. Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bichette and Addison Barger hit run-scoring base hits through the infield, capping a four-run outburst that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to absorb early blows and answer has characterized their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without Springer, the injured leadoff man who exited the third game after tweaking his oblique.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Traded for during the summer while completing recovery from elbow surgery, the ex- award-winning winner left several baserunners and silenced the Dodgers' dangerous lineup. He gave up one run on four base hits and three free passes before Schneider called on first-year pitcher Mason Fluharty to confront the core of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just 4 pitches to get out Muncy and Tommy Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that soon grew safe.

Former starting pitcher Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' bats kept to sputter. Los Angeles have scored only 3 runs over their previous 20 innings, an abrupt slowdown for a club that ranked among baseball's top offenses all year.

Closing Moments

The Dodgers scraped a run in the ninth when Tommy Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's double put two aboard. But Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop.

Following a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and collapsed after repeated of missed opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. Six separate Toronto players collected base hits, five drove in runs and the team converted almost every scoring opportunity available in the late stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The victory guarantees the championship title will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's iconic game-winning homer in 1993. They now know they are assured a packed house in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly the next day – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup even and energy swinging north. Dodgers pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto counter with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased Snell early in an decisive win.